How do I start a career in supply chain management?

To start a career in supply chain management, you need the right educational credentials and work experience. For example, most supply chain managers have at least a bachelor's degree, five years of supply chain experience, and another one to three years working as a supervisor.

Is supply chain manager a good job?

Yes, being a supply chain manager is a good job. Supply chain managers are paid well and generally enjoy what they do. The job outlook for supply chain managers is favorable, and there are so many different industries that need supply chain managers.

What is the career path for supply chain management?

The career path for supply chain management involves jobs as a supply chain manager, distribution manager, and logistics specialist. There are several different career paths in supply chain management, and most rely heavily on logistics.

What skills do you need to be a supply chain manager?

The skills needed to be a supply chain manager include being able to oversee and manage the entire supply chain and logistics operations to maximize efficiency and minimize the organization's supply chain costs.

How To Become A Supply Chain Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a supply chain manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Priya Nagaraj

A supply chain manager oversees the entire process of getting a product from the supplier to the consumer. They are responsible for managing logistics, coordinating with suppliers, negotiating prices, and ensuring that products are delivered on time and in good condition. A supply chain manager must also be able to identify potential supply chain risks and develop contingency plans. Additionally, they analyze data to optimize the supply chain, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

What general advice would you give to a supply chain manager?

Priya Nagaraj

Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website

Students should be able to analyze and interpret data. For instance, demand forecasting and predictive analytics are a large part of this industry today. As the number of regulations across nations increases, it is important to have at least some knowledge of foreign regulations. Cross-cultural knowledge and experience are always a plus in this area for prospective employees. People skills are also important along with knowledge of additional languages.

ScoreSupply Chain ManagerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $100,414

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity

3.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.94%

Black or African American 7.59%

Hispanic or Latino 12.72%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.39%

Gender

female 25.15%

male 74.85%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a supply chain manager?

Pros

High demand for skilled supply chain managers in various industries
Exposure to global markets and international business practices
Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technology and software
Constantly learning and staying up-to-date on industry trends and best practices
Potential for travel and networking opportunities

Cons

High levels of stress and pressure to meet deadlines and maintain efficiency
Need to balance competing priorities from various departments within the company
May need to manage difficult relationships with suppliers or stakeholders
May require extensive travel, which can be tiring and disruptive to personal life
Must stay up-to-date on regulations, compliance issues, and other legal requirements that can impact supply chain operations.

Key steps to become a supply chain manager

Explore supply chain manager education requirements

Most common supply chain manager degrees

Bachelor's

69.7 %

Master's

17.2 %

Associate

9.4 %

Start to develop specific supply chain manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Supply Chain	19.85%
Logistics	9.45%
Project Management	5.31%
Customer Service	5.07%
Chain Management	4.64%

Complete relevant supply chain manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supply chain managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a supply chain manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supply chain manager resumes.

Research supply chain manager duties and responsibilities

Lead the SIOP process to establish continuous flow for customer deliveries while achieving a reduction in inventory.
Manage RFP process to identify best partners.
Develop and implement a process to manage and maintain accurate item master in LAWSON procurement system.
Raise capital, set up PMO office & lead cross-functional team to deliver a document management technology solution.

Prepare your supply chain manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your supply chain manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a supply chain manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable supply chain manager resume templates

Build a professional supply chain manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your supply chain manager resume.

Apply for supply chain manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a supply chain manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first supply chain manager job

Ken Perry

Supply Chain Manager

In my career, I started out as a production planner but discovered what is now ASCM, Association for Supply Chain Management (formerly APICS). I joined the local chapter, became CPIM certified and later was asked to become an instructor for certification training for other members. As the VP of Education for the chapter, it opened doors to other companies and opportunities. Companies that I taught these courses for would later contact me to see if I knew anyone who might be interested in a position they had open. That opened the door for me to move into management and eventually into the corporate supply chain arena.

The long and short of it comes down to networking. Getting to know those in the industry, learning best practices and helping others.

How do supply chain managers rate their job?

5/5

Based on 1 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Supply chain manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.

Cons

Works not recognized by upper management!

A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Cons

work will be sometimes hectic.

Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.

5.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.

Cons

I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.

What is a supply chain manager and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a supply chain manager?

What are the pros and cons of being a supply chain manager?

Supply chain manager career paths

Key steps to become a supply chain manager

Explore supply chain manager education requirements

Most common supply chain manager degrees

Start to develop specific supply chain manager skills

Complete relevant supply chain manager training and internships

Research supply chain manager duties and responsibilities

Prepare your supply chain manager resume

Choose from 10+ customizable supply chain manager resume templates

Apply for supply chain manager jobs

How did you land your first supply chain manager job

Average supply chain manager salary

How do supply chain managers rate their job?

Supply chain manager reviews

Supply chain manager FAQs

How do I start a career in supply chain management?

Is supply chain manager a good job?

What is the career path for supply chain management?

What skills do you need to be a supply chain manager?

Search for supply chain manager jobs

Supply chain manager jobs by state