Logisticians

Logisticians evaluate and coordinate the logistical functions for a company or an organization. Logisticians have the responsibility for the complete life cycle of a product including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery of the product and the final disposal of resources.

A Logistician needs to understand their customer's needs and make sure those needs are met. Part of the job includes explaining proposed solutions to management, customers and other individuals that are involved, via oral presentations and written proposals.

They sometimes redesign the movement of goods to minimize costs and maximize value. A logistician needs to stay current with the new logistics technology advances and utilize appropriate technology to enhance the logistics procedures.

Some of the similar job titles are logistics coordinator, logistics analyst, logistics technician, logistics planner, logistics engineer and logistics specialist.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee the compilation and evaluation of technical data which is utilized for product development
  • Prepare proposals that include documentation for estimates
  • Oversee availability and allocation of supplies, materials and finished products
  • Work with customer's representatives that are involved with logistics activity
  • Control and protect proprietary materials
  • Perform system life-cycle cost analysis and create component studies
  • Examine logistics performance with customers to compare to benchmarks, targets and service agreements
  • Direct team activities
  • Plan, coordinate and direct support activities including repair analysis, maintenance planning and test equipment recommendations

Job Characteristics

Logisticians should be detailed oriented, have good analytical thinking ability and good communication skills. They need to have good decision making and problem solving skills. Working well with customers is a vital aspect of the job. They often use computers for their work. A logistician spends a lot of time communicating with people outside of their company.

Employment Outlook

The projected growth rate for the occupation from 2006 to 2016 is 17%. The median wage in 2008 for logisticians was $66,480.

The highest paying industries for the occupation are petroleum and petroleum merchant wholesalers, communications equipment manufacturing, data processing, hosting and related services; petroleum and coal products manufacturing; and securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage.

Education, Certification, and Licensing

Employers often look for candidates with a degree in industrial engineering. Some logisticians have graduate degrees.

Resources

Major Employers

The major employment industries are the federal government, management of companies and enterprises, aerospace product and parts manufacturing; management, scientific and technical consulting services; and computer systems design and related services.

Schools for Logisticians are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Logisticians Skills

Below are the skills needed to be logisticians according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Critical Thinking44.12
Active Listening3.884.12
Coordination3.884.25
Monitoring3.884.62
Reading Comprehension3.884.12

Logisticians Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be logisticians according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Deductive Reasoning44.62
Inductive Reasoning44
Information Ordering43.88
Oral Comprehension44.38
Oral Expression44.12

Logisticians Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be logisticians according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Transportation4.754.88
English Language44.17
Administration and Management3.965.08
Customer and Personal Service3.925.25
Mathematics3.714.54

Logisticians Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being logisticians according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.424.92
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work4.385.58
Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.335.12
Getting Information4.294.88
Interacting With Computers4.293.75

Logisticians Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being logisticians according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Integrity4.71
Dependability4.67
Attention to Detail4.46
Initiative4.38
Cooperation4.33

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Logisticians

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Logisticians jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim8,510$84,700
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue5,520$91,520
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington5,470$77,900
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn4,930$87,060
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land4,440$98,060
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell4,210$66,920
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward3,540$82,010
San Diego-Carlsbad3,250$82,190
Huntsville2,730$95,660
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach2,590$58,010

Compare Total Employment & Salaries for Logisticians

Use our handy tool to see what employment and salary numbers look like for two different metro areas

Select State
Select Metro Area 1
Select Metro Area 2
Please select State, Metro Area 1 and Metro Area 2
Select different Metro Areas
Employment
Salary

Total employment and salary for professions similar to logisticians

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Logisticians.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.