Tenure, leadership and education have the most impact on salary increases

CHICAGO – May 2, 2018 – Today APICS, the association for supply chain management, published the “2018 Supply Chain Compensation and Career Survey Report,” a research report comprised of data from more than 2,600 U.S. supply chain professionals. The inaugural annual survey reveals a healthy outlook for those employed in supply chain, with wage increases and high job satisfaction reported across the profession. Key findings reveal the average salary for supply chain professionals in 2017 was $85,210. In addition, 90 percent of respondents received an average salary increase of at least 3 percent in 2017 and nearly all reported they are happy and likely to remain in the supply chain field.

“The data revealed in this report show that supply chain careers represent a fulfilling, dynamic and rewarding long-term career choice for professionals,” said APICS CEO Abe Eshkenazi, CSCP, CPA, CAE. “We’re excited to see that our members are well-compensated and continuing to advance in their careers. We foresee that this success will continue as supply chain professionals continue to become a more integral part of overall business strategy.”

The survey shows that continued professional education has a large impact on the salaries of supply chain professionals. Survey respondents who indicated holding one certification reported a median salary that was 19 percent more than their peers without certifications. Respondents who earned an APICS certification reported a median salary that is 27 percent more than those who indicated that they did not have any certification. Certifications were also found to have a continuing career impact. Among workers with the same tenure in the field, those with an APICS certification reported higher salaries than those without one. The survey revealed that, despite growth in compensation and job satisfaction, there still is work to do when it comes to addressing the pay gap between men and women within the field.

Summarized, the key findings of the report are:

1. Supply chain professionals experience high job satisfaction: When asked to rate their overall job satisfaction with working in the supply chain field overall, 96 percent of those surveyed reported high levels of satisfaction, with the average rating as 8.4 on a scale of 0-10. Overall, supply chain professionals are also satisfied with their current job position, reporting an average rating of 7.4.
2. Tenure matters, but recent-graduates are seeing higher initial salaries: As might be expected, supply chain professionals with the highest level of tenure also receive the highest salaries. A $39,818 gap separates the average salaries of those with at least 20 years of work experience in the supply chain field and those with less than one year in the field. However, possibly due to the current demand for recent supply chain graduates, the average salary for recent graduates is slightly higher than the salary level for those with one to three years of tenure.
3. Leadership roles increase salary prospects: The survey found roles that require supervision of others receive more significant compensation. Supply chain professionals who directly or indirectly supervise at least 50 individuals report an average base salary of about 82 percent more than those who do not supervise others; supervising even 1-4 individuals provides a 13 percent increase.
4. The value of certification: Those who hold just one certification reported a median salary that was 19 percent higher than those who are not certified. Moreover, those with 2 or 3 certifications reported median salaries of 39 percent higher and 50 percent higher, respectively.
5. The gender gap in supply chain: The results of the survey show that there is a pay gap between men and women in the supply chain field, and wage disparity increases with field tenure. Male respondents reported average salaries that are 15.8 percent higher than those reported by female respondents.

Using the data collected from the 2018 salary report, APICS also created an interactive salary calculator. The calculator allows APICS members to filter to see how changes in job title, tenure, education, certification and more can affect salary and compensation. The data in the report and calculator will be updated annually.

To view the full results of the report, visit: http://www.apics.org/salaryreport

APICS members can access the report and salary calculator for free here: http://www.apics.org/salarycalc

About the survey:

APICS received 2,659 responses to this salary survey. Respondents were instructed to answer the survey based on their position in the supply chain field in the period between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, per anti-trust guidelines. A significant majority of respondents were currently in staff/associate or managerial level positions, with 11 percent being at the director level or above.

About APICS

APICS is the association for supply chain management and the leading provider of research, education and certification programs that elevate supply chain excellence, innovation and resilience. The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM); APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP); APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD); and APICS Supply Chain Operations Reference-Professional (SCOR-P) designations set the industry standard. With more than 45,000 members and approximately 300 channel partners, APICS is transforming the way people do business, drive growth and reach global customers. For more information, visit apics.org.

Media contact: 
Shelley Nall
INK Communications Co.
512.632.1487
apics@ink-co.com