Salary Survey: Pay, satisfaction, youth on the rise

As loyal readers of Logistics Management are well aware, we’re sticklers for tradition—especially for research and annual lists. This month marks the 40th year we’ve shared our Annual Salary Survey and the 20th year we’ve worked with SJ Consulting in Pittsburgh to create our Top 50 Trucking lists.

As we find every year, our Annual Salary Survey continues to be the top-read feature we produce—and we’re never surprised. Who doesn’t want to know what their peers are making and how they measure up with other logistics professionals in their region and around the country? Contributing editor Bridget McCrea dives into all of the findings of our 2024 survey, starting on page 24.

What did we find? Even amid the uncertain economic news that forced many companies to cut back during 2023 to keep budgets in line, we’re happy to report that logistics salaries remained consistent from 2023 to 2024, with nearly 60% of LM readers reporting salary increases, with an average of 5%.

“Considering the fog that hovered over most C-suites last year, we’re pleasantly surprised to see salaries continue a steady climb upward,” says McCrea. “It was also good to see this year’s job satisfaction numbers maintaining such a high level as well, proving once again that logistics professionals thrive in challenging conditions.”

In fact, I’d bet it’s hard to find any other market with 94% of its key management professionals reporting that they’re “very” to “somewhat” satisfied with their careers—a figure that’s nothing short of remarkable when you consider all we’ve been faced with over the past four years.

“Just over half of this year’s respondents [51%] say they’re ‘very satisfied,’ and 79% say they would recommend the logistics profession to their daughter, son, or friend,” adds McCrea. “That’s a testament to not only how well our logistics operations are run, but also a shout out to the positive relationships shippers have with their carrier and service provider partners.”

Another upbeat finding this year is that 80% of respondents say they are either “seeing” or “expect to see” younger managers enter the logistics workforce. Let’s hope that those positive recommendations help fuel a much-needed youth movement in logistics.

Farewell…for now

A wise HR director I met early in my career told me: “No one is irreplaceable.” And I’ve found over the years that she’s mostly right.

As many LM readers may have heard, long-time contributing editor Bob Trebilcock officially retired as of March 31. He evolved into the face of sister publication Supply Chain Management Review 15 years ago and was front and center for Modern Materials Handling over the past 30+ years. I’m certain that his insight, understanding, and passion for supply chain are irreplaceable.

Not only did Bob grow up in this market, with a family pallet business fanning the early flames, but the fact that his range of interests—film, jazz, guitar, Hemingway, Django, Baker—and his ability to communicate from the unique position as an artist, screenwriter, accomplished guitarist, as well as a B2B reporter with true industry knowledge, puts him on a plateau many will never reach.

He never liked when I called him a “Renaissance man,” that rare person who has acquired profound knowledge or proficiency in more than one field. But if Bob isn’t one, then they simply don’t exist. I believe they do.