What is a Supply Chain Manager?
Supply Chain Manager Job Description Direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. Examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.
What Do Supply Chain Managers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Participate in the coordination of engineering changes, product line extensions, or new product launches to ensure orderly and timely transitions in material or production flow.
- Analyze information about supplier performance or procurement program success.
- Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
- Document physical supply chain processes, such as workflows, cycle times, position responsibilities, or system flows.
- Review or update supply chain practices in accordance with new or changing environmental policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
- Meet with suppliers to discuss performance metrics, to provide performance feedback, or to discuss production forecasts or changes.
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Supply Chain Manager Skills
When polled, Supply Chain Managers say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Other Supply Chain Manager Job Titles
- Global Supply Chain Vice President
- Global Consumer Sector Vice President
- Materials Manager
- Supply Chain Procurement Manager
- Supply Chain Program Manager
What Kind of Supply Chain Manager Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 992,100 jobs for Supply Chain Manager in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 79,600 new jobs for Supply Chain Manager by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 79,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Supply Chain Manager are Utah, Washington, and Nevada. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Maine, or Maryland. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Supply Chain Managers Salary
The salary for Supply Chain Managers ranges between about $52,550 and $183,430 a year.

Supply Chain Managers who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or California, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Supply Chain Managers in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $106,680 |
Alaska | $118,650 |
Arizona | $101,630 |
Arkansas | $86,410 |
California | $143,350 |
Colorado | $138,490 |
Connecticut | $129,730 |
Delaware | $134,410 |
District of Columbia | $147,460 |
Florida | $99,240 |
Georgia | $118,060 |
Hawaii | $93,760 |
Idaho | $85,070 |
Illinois | $90,080 |
Indiana | $71,560 |
Iowa | $101,360 |
Kansas | $102,560 |
Kentucky | $92,630 |
Louisiana | $87,080 |
Maine | $96,570 |
Maryland | $122,050 |
Massachusetts | $131,450 |
Michigan | $98,780 |
Minnesota | $128,590 |
Mississippi | $82,230 |
Missouri | $97,820 |
Montana | $76,990 |
Nebraska | $101,380 |
Nevada | $102,060 |
New Hampshire | $123,580 |
New Jersey | $138,820 |
New Mexico | $96,490 |
New York | $124,160 |
North Carolina | $121,500 |
North Dakota | $109,820 |
Ohio | $107,320 |
Oklahoma | $102,710 |
Oregon | $94,400 |
Pennsylvania | $126,290 |
Rhode Island | $114,660 |
South Carolina | $100,890 |
South Dakota | $99,030 |
Tennessee | $83,010 |
Texas | $122,130 |
Utah | $102,290 |
Vermont | $105,950 |
Virginia | $134,500 |
Washington | $125,490 |
West Virginia | $77,290 |
Wisconsin | $85,050 |
Wyoming | $100,310 |
What Tools & Technology do Supply Chain Managers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Supply Chain Managers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- MEDITECH software
- Minitab
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Graphics software
- Oracle E-Business Suite Financials
- Oracle Hyperion
How to Become a Supply Chain Manager
Learn what Supply Chain Manager education requirements there are.

What work experience do I need to become a Supply Chain Manager?

Where do Supply Chain Managers Work?

Below are examples of industries where Supply Chain Managers work:

Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Supply Chain Manager might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Mike Moore via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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