All About Supply Chain Managers
Career Description Direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. Examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.
Life As a Supply Chain Manager: What Do They Do?
- Design or implement supply chains that support environmental policies.
- Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
- Monitor suppliers’ activities to assess performance in meeting quality or delivery requirements.
- Diagram supply chain models to help facilitate discussions with customers.
- Conduct or oversee the conduct of life cycle analyses to determine the environmental impacts of products, processes, or systems.
- Design or implement supply chains that support business strategies adapted to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, or cost reduction strategies.
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Supply Chain Manager Needed Skills
When polled, Supply Chain Managers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Other Supply Chain Manager Job Titles
- Materials Manager
- Global Consumer Sector Vice President
- Supply Chain Procurement Manager
- Global Supply Chain Director
- Supply Planner
What Kind of Supply Chain Manager Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 992,100 jobs in the United States for Supply Chain Manager. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 79,600 new jobs for Supply Chain Manager by 2026. The BLS estimates 79,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Supply Chain Manager are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Supply Chain Manager Salary
The average yearly salary of a Supply Chain Manager ranges between $52,550 and $183,430.

Supply Chain Managers who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Supply Chain Managers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $106,680 |
Alaska | $118,650 |
Arizona | $101,630 |
Arkansas | $86,410 |
California | $143,350 |
Colorado | $138,490 |
Connecticut | $129,730 |
Delaware | $134,410 |
District of Columbia | $147,460 |
Florida | $99,240 |
Georgia | $118,060 |
Hawaii | $93,760 |
Idaho | $85,070 |
Illinois | $90,080 |
Indiana | $71,560 |
Iowa | $101,360 |
Kansas | $102,560 |
Kentucky | $92,630 |
Louisiana | $87,080 |
Maine | $96,570 |
Maryland | $122,050 |
Massachusetts | $131,450 |
Michigan | $98,780 |
Minnesota | $128,590 |
Mississippi | $82,230 |
Missouri | $97,820 |
Montana | $76,990 |
Nebraska | $101,380 |
Nevada | $102,060 |
New Hampshire | $123,580 |
New Jersey | $138,820 |
New Mexico | $96,490 |
New York | $124,160 |
North Carolina | $121,500 |
North Dakota | $109,820 |
Ohio | $107,320 |
Oklahoma | $102,710 |
Oregon | $94,400 |
Pennsylvania | $126,290 |
Rhode Island | $114,660 |
South Carolina | $100,890 |
South Dakota | $99,030 |
Tennessee | $83,010 |
Texas | $122,130 |
Utah | $102,290 |
Vermont | $105,950 |
Virginia | $134,500 |
Washington | $125,490 |
West Virginia | $77,290 |
Wisconsin | $85,050 |
Wyoming | $100,310 |
What Tools & Technology do Supply Chain Managers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Supply Chain Managers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- MEDITECH software
- Minitab
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Graphics software
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Oracle Hyperion
How to Become a Supply Chain Manager
What education or degrees do I need to become a Supply Chain Manager?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Supply Chain Manager?

Where Supply Chain Managers Are Employed

Supply Chain Managers work in the following industries:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Supply Chain Manager may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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