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What is a supply manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Priya Nagaraj
introduction image

The primary role of a supply manager is to oversee the importation and creation of raw materials that the company needs to create new products. They ensure that the production department always has an adequate amount of supplies and that these supplies pass the company's quality standards.

That said, the duties of a supply manager involve coordinating with other supply chain managers, negotiating contracts with vendors or suppliers, overseeing the inspection of deliveries, and responding to emergencies such as supply shortages in a timely manner. Moreover, a supply manager also participates in the development of new strategies to optimize all aspects of the supply chain.

When hiring a supply manager, most employers prefer a candidate with a degree in business, supply chain management, or something similar. More than that, they also often require a substantial amount of prior work experience, preferably in a similar field or job position.

When it comes to salary, supply managers earn an average income of $97,000 per year, which is only fair given the amount of responsibility that they have on their shoulders.

What general advice would you give to a supply manager?

Priya NagarajPriya Nagaraj LinkedIn profile

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 ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.5

Avg. Salary $96,971

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.9

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.97%

Black or African American 7.61%

Hispanic or Latino 12.75%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.31%

Gender

female 30.00%

male 70.00%

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
8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Supply manager career paths

Key steps to become a supply manager

  1. Explore supply manager education requirements

    Most common supply manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    57.8 %

    Associate

    18.7 %

    Master's

    11.9 %
  2. Start to develop specific supply manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Supply Chain25.07%
    Patients6.24%
    Supplier Performance5.57%
    Supplier Relationships5.17%
    Cost Savings4.80%
  3. Complete relevant supply manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supply 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 manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supply manager resumes.
  4. Research supply manager duties and responsibilities

    • Manage global supply partners for PCB assembly from product introduction through mass production.
    • Manage supplier relationship, conduct quarterly supplier reviews to ensure suppliers are meeting predetermine KPI's.
    • Lead, organize and complete all assignment and/or replication of OEM software contracts for Lucent/AVAYA spin-off.
    • Manage supplier MRP by identifying and tracking critical component changes, board spins, and lead-time analysis.
  5. Prepare your supply manager resume

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

    Build a professional supply 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 manager resume.
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  6. Apply for supply manager jobs

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

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

How did you land your first supply manager job

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Average supply manager salary

The average supply manager salary in the United States is $96,971 per year or $47 per hour. Supply manager salaries range between $68,000 and $137,000 per year.

Average supply manager salary
$96,971 Yearly
$46.62 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do supply managers rate their job?

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Supply manager reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020
Pros

Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

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


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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.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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