LM Viewpoints: 38th Annual Salary Survey show numbers on the rebound

For the 38th year running, Logistics Management (LM) is using its April issue to share the findings of our Annual Salary Survey, the clearest, most comprehensive snapshot available of logistics management salaries and employee development needs available in the market. As in years past,

this exclusive research project is conducted by Peerless Research Group (PRG) and serves as the foundation of our best-read editorial feature (page 20) and the most downloaded report that PRG produces. In fact, watch your e-mail over the next couple of weeks for your invitation to access the full 2022 LM Salary Survey.

For the first time, contributing editor Bridget McCrea has teamed up with PRG’s research director Brian Beaudette to offer a fresh look at the data gleaned from nearly 300 logistics professionals over the course of February 2022. And of course, we want to thank all of the LM readers who took the time to complete this year’s survey.

What did our research team find this year? When you consider the fact that we remained mired in the deepest labor crisis in decades, where demand for labor has nearly outstripped supply, the news for those who’ve decided to make a commitment to logistics and supply chain management—and stick round—is pretty good.

In fact, salaries realized a bit of a rebound this year. As McCrea reports, on average, supply chain and logistics professionals make $126,215 annually in 2022. That’s an increase from $112,779 in 2021, and back up near 2020’s average of $126,475.

“We’ve consistently found that your salary increases with the number of years in the position, but really increases after five years,” says McCrea. “This year, those who have been in their position more than 10 years earn $126,715 on average, while those who have been in their role three years to five years earn $88,750 on average. There’s also a ‘job satisfaction’ element that plays into these longevity numbers, as logistics professionals appear to continue to love what they do.”

In fact, considering the mounting pressures and disruptions that have confronted LM readers over the past couple of years, I’m consistently floored by our “satisfaction in career” findings year after year. This year, a combined 92% of respondents say they’re either “very satisfied” or “somewhat satisfied” with their career in logistics and supply chain management.

And what drives that satisfaction? Leading the way is “relationship with colleagues” at 56% and “feeling of accomplishment” at 51%. “Salary” and “relationship with boss” were tied at 48%.

And, by the way, while 46% of respondents say they’re “always open to better opportunities,” a surprising 31% say they’re “happy where they are.” In fact, McCrea reports that respondents who are happy where they are earn significantly more ($124,535) than those who are actively looking, who earn $108,560 on average.

“It’s not hard to understand why that camaraderie and feeling of accomplishment is so high this year,” says McCrea. “These are the professionals who kept critical commerce moving during the most trying times we’ve seen in a generation, if not longer. And now, all of a sudden, the world understands what logistics and supply chain managers do and appreciate the important role they play. What’s more important than that in a career?”