Life As a Supply Chain Manager
Supply Chain Manager Example 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.
List of Supply Chain Manager Job Duties
- Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
- Identify or qualify new suppliers in collaboration with other departments, such as procurement, engineering, or quality assurance.
- Evaluate and select information or other technology solutions to improve tracking and reporting of materials or products distribution, storage, or inventory.
- Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders.
- Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality.
- Conduct or oversee the conduct of life cycle analyses to determine the environmental impacts of products, processes, or systems.
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Things a Supply Chain Manager Should Know How to Do
Supply Chain Managers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Related Job Titles
- Supply Planner
- Solution Design and Analysis Manager
- Material Requirements Planning Manager
- Supply Chain Director
- Supply Chain Design Manager
What Kind of Supply Chain Manager Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 992,100 jobs for Supply Chain Manager in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 79,200 positions for Supply Chain Manager per year.

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.
How much do Supply Chain Managers make in each U.S. state?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Supply Chain Managers
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 SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
- 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 do I Become a Supply Chain Manager?
Individuals working as a Supply Chain Manager have obtained the following education levels:

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

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Supply Chain Manager might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.