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Job outlook for materials directors in the United States
Materials director job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected materials director job growth rate is -6% from 2018-2028.
About -29,500 new jobs for materials directors are projected over the next decade.
Materials director salaries have increased 13% for materials directors in the last 5 years.
There are over 12,203 materials directors currently employed in the United States.
There are 20,718 active materials director job openings in the US.
The average materials director salary is $127,061.
Are materials director jobs in demand?
Materials director job and salary trends over time
Materials director jobs over time
Materials director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 12,203 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 12,494 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 12,695 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12,235 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 12,401 | 0.00% |
Average materials director salary over time
Materials director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $127,061 | $61.09 | +4.0% |
| 2024 | $122,188 | $58.74 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $119,999 | $57.69 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $116,791 | $56.15 | +3.7% |
| 2021 | $112,584 | $54.13 | +3.2% |
Materials director jobs by state
Most common states for materials directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 200 | 23% |
| 2 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 538 | 17% |
| 3 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 502 | 17% |
| 4 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 465 | 12% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 83 | 12% |
| 6 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 531 | 11% |
| 7 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 509 | 11% |
| 8 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 326 | 11% |
| 9 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 396 | 6% |
| 10 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 371 | 4% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 293 | 4% |
| 12 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 215 | 4% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 54 | 4% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 1,287 | 3% |
| 15 | New York | 19,849,399 | 517 | 3% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 342 | 3% |
| 17 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 142 | 3% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 120 | 3% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 89 | 3% |
| 20 | Vermont | 623,657 | 17 | 3% |
Most common cities for materials directors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suitland | 1 | 4% | $130,976 |
| 2 | Newark | 1 | 3% | $116,131 |
| 3 | Middletown | 1 | 2% | $123,791 |
| 4 | Southfield | 1 | 1% | $127,076 |
Materials Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of materials director experts
Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington
Mr. Supply Chain
What type of skills will young Materials Directors need?
Adrian Tan: The feedback from business leaders is that they wish to see a balanced mix of different skills in new graduates. An unexpected skill mentioned is the ability to use spreadsheets such as Excel. Companies do not expect to have to train new employees to use spreadsheets, though it turned out that spreadsheets are widely used (at varying levels of complexity) at all levels in organizations. An assumption here is that if a graduate already has good spreadsheet skills, then the graduate should also have the ability to quickly pick up on other more complex business IT skills required by the organization.
Businesses also need to know if their new employees can effectively interact with internal or external audiences. In this regard, excellent presentation skills are the minimum expectation from businesses. Presentation skills (both formal and informal) include the ability to read people, to communicate, and to covey information appropriately to the different types of audiences they may encounter - and these may sometimes include bored, skeptical, adversarial or even hostile audiences.
Every organization also requires graduates to show that they are good team-players. In addition to that, it is a big advantage if graduates can also demonstrate sound leadership skills in the context of teamwork. This is because new employees with leadership potential are viewed as those who are willing to go the extra mile, able to function with minimum supervision, can roll with the punches to jump back into the fray, and trusted to welcome (instead of to avoid) new assignments or challenges. Leadership skills are also seen as closely aligned with the possession of a corporate entrepreneurial mindset in that such employees are more willing to challenge the status quo, come up with out-of-the-box ideas, and help lead transformation efforts that can guide the organization in the future.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Materials Directors to find work opportunities?
Adrian Tan: Business skills are in great demand anywhere where there is a desire to organize human beings for productive gains. Realistically, new graduates always have to consider if they should relocate for their first jobs. This is because it is natural for business cycles to expand or contract over time in patterns that may not be in sync with the timing of new graduates entering the work force. For instance, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has froze certain types of jobs in businesses, but has expanded other types of jobs instead. This means that there are new opportunities being created, but these may be located in other parts of the country.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Materials Directors to find work opportunities?
Daniel Stanton: Every business and government organization has a supply chain, and that means there are job opportunities for supply chain professionals virtually everywhere. I always encourage people to focus on industries and regions that align with their personal priorities, while factoring in the upside opportunities and downside risks. It's easier to get a job with a company that is growing, and in a region that has a strong economy. But you can still find opportunities with companies that are trying to cut costs in their supply chain to survive an economic downturn.
How do you envision technology impacting Materials Directors in the next 5 years?
Daniel Stanton: Technology is having a huge impact on supply chains! Many of our planning and execution processes are being automated, and robots and autonomous vehicles are changing the way we think about transportation and material handling. Sensors and telecommunications are also giving us better visibility to what's happening throughout the supply chain, and making it much easier to control supply chain activities around the world from a laptop or cellphone. I know some people are concerned about technology replacing the work that people are doing today, and eliminating supply chain jobs. But I think there are many more examples of companies that are creating new positions for people who can plan and orchestrate the vast number of complex activities that need to be aligned in order for a supply chain to function effectively.