What Can I Do With a Supply Chain Management Degree?

At its most basic level, supply chain management is about getting materials from point A to point B. However, in today’s global economy, the line from A to B is never quite straight. There are shipping laws to consider, costs to take into account and a myriad of uncontrollable variables to anticipate.

To keep a shipment’s journey on time and under budget, companies big and small rely on supply chain management professionals.

Whether they work in shipping, receiving or somewhere in between, these professionals often start their careers by earning bachelor’s degrees in supply chain management. Through these specialized business degree programs, students learn the data analysis, logistical and economic skills they need to take on leadership positions in their future careers.

But before diving into this surprisingly varied industry, many future professionals wonder what they can do with a supply chain management degree. To answer that question, here are a few careers in supply chain management that often require the skill set a bachelor’s degree program can provide.

Purchasing Agent

Also called purchasing managers or buyers, purchasing agents help their organizations procure materials to use in internal operations or to sell on the retail market. This can also include the purchasing of services their organizations must outsource, such as IT support and transportation.

Purchasing agents can work in retail, government, industrial manufacturing and just about any other sector that manages mass quantities of goods. While their exact duties vary between industries, they’re often responsible for the following:

• Finding and evaluating potential suppliers through interviews, trade shows and plant visits
• Negotiating contracts with vendors
• Researching market trends to anticipate supply issues and price changes
• Informing budgets and purchasing quotas based on historical trends and market conditions
• Helping sales teams set prices

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), purchasing agents earn a median annual salary of $71,950 as of May 2023. Employment for purchasing agents is expected to increase by 7% through 2033. That’s equivalent to an average of 61,100 new jobs per year and almost double the 4% average growth the BLS expects for all occupations.

Transportation Manager

Transportation managers oversee the delivery of production materials to their organizations and the distribution of products to sellers and customers. Early- and mid-career managers are often in charge of transportation within a specific region, or they oversee a single warehouse. Their more experienced colleagues, often called transportation directors, coordinate company-wide distribution efforts.

Typical duties for a transportation director include the following:

• Overseeing delivery staff
• Conducting vehicle inspections and ensuring their distribution fleets are well-maintained
• Optimizing distribution routes, often with the help of advanced A.I.-driven software
• Integrating air, rail and truck delivery systems as needed
• Creating timetables and schedules based on input from warehouse managers, procurement specialists and other professionals
• Making sure all paperwork (bills of lading, driver’s records of duty status, etc.) is accurate and up to date

The BLS reports that the median annual salary for these professionals is $99,200 as of May 2023. Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS expects employment in transportation management positions to increase by 9%, which translates to about 19,700 job openings per year. This higher-than-average growth is largely the result of the e-commerce boom and its reliance on trans-national and international supply lines.

Supply Chain Analyst

Instead of focusing on one aspect of the supply chain, supply chain analysts help their organizations streamline their distribution efforts from end to end. Taking on this role is perhaps one of the most advanced challenges a professional can do with a supply chain management degree. It also typically requires a few years of experience in a related role.

Relying on their statistical analysis skills and data management software, supply chain analysts do the following:

• Collect data and monitor day-to-day supply chain operations
• Compare the costs and benefits of different supply chain solutions
• Coordinate efforts between different departments, vendors and supply chain channels
• Develop solutions to persistent issues such as late deliveries or increasing costs
• Investigate new technologies and integrate them into daily operations
• Keep executives up-to-date on emerging issues and market trends

The BLS doesn’t track employment data for supply chain analysts specifically, but they report that logisticians (a group that includes supply chain analysts) earn a median annual salary of $79,400 as of May 2023. Employment for these professionals is expected to increase by 19% by 2033. Supply chain analysts are necessary in many industries, but according to the BLS, the manufacturing sector and the federal government employ the most analysts.

Supply Chain Consultant

While many companies employ their own supply chain experts, others turn to third-party logistics (3PL) companies for help. 3PL firms can handle any and all of the tasks typically assigned to an in-house supply chain management team. However, they can also help companies with their own logistics teams increase profit margins, streamline operations and navigate logistical challenges such as natural disasters or the ongoing supply chain talent shortage.

3PL companies employ all types of supply chain professionals to meet their clients’ needs, but supply chain consultants are the ones who typically work directly with clients. Their duties often include the following:

• Auditing all supply chain operations to identify issues and areas for improvement
• Presenting their findings to their client companies’ executive teams
• Making recommendations based on forecasted economic conditions
• Re-negotiating contracts and finding new vendors
• Training in-house supply chain professionals on new measures
• Managing a client’s supply chain department when massive overhauls are necessary

Supply chain consultants often need at least a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management and a few years of experience in their specialty. Some also pursue advanced degrees and professional certifications in different areas of supply chain logistics. The BLS doesn’t report on these specific professionals, but the median annual salary for logisticians is $79,400 as of May 2023 and employment is expected to increase by 19% between 2023 and 2033.

According to market research firm IBISWorld, America’s 3PL industry is expected to grow in the coming years due to increased trade volume and the persistent supply chain bottlenecks faced by the industrial and retail sectors.

What Else You Can Do With a Supply Chain Management Degree

In today’s interconnected economy, Fortune 500 companies and small, independent businesses alike have global reach. While this presents new opportunities for supply chain professionals, it also poses new challenges. App State Online’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Supply Chain Management program can help you become the leader this ever-changing industry needs.

Informed by an advisory board of industry leaders, this program’s curriculum includes classes on data analysis, supply chain technology and other career-focused skills necessary to manage every segment of an organization’s supply chain. And as an AACSB-accredited school, App State’s Walker College of Business provides students with the support they need for long-term career development.

To learn more about what you can do with a supply chain management degree and how App State Online’s flexible online scheduling, transfer policies and financial aid opportunities can help you finish your degree, contact our admissions staff today.

Recommended Readings

What Is a Logistics Coordinator?

Sustainable Practices That Support the Global Supply Chain

Sources:

IBISWorld, “Third-Party Logistics in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)”

Indeed, “15 Jobs You Can Get With a Supply Chain Management Degree”

Indeed, “Supply Chain Analyst Job Duties: Top Duties and Qualifications”

Indeed, “What Is a 3PL Company? Guide To Third-Party Logistics”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Logisticians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers