ASCM Releases Supply Chain Salary Report as Gartner Convenes for Annual Meeting

Coinciding with this year's Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference is the release of the “2019 Supply Chain Salary and Career Survey Report,” which contains encouraging findings for companies seeking new talent and retaining the best they have now.

The report, produced by the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), contains valuable information for those attending Gartner's event, says ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi.

“The timing of our release was more of a coincidence than anything else,” he says, “but we do feel that it will create a lot of discussion at Gartner conference…particularly because it is aimed at executives.”

Now in its second year, the survey captured the responses of 1700 respondents who shared their views on a variety of issues related to job satisfaction. Among them were rising salaries, and benefits contributing to a healthy work and life balance…all of which contributed to strong job stability.

“It came as no surprise that the new generation of executives will be expecting a better balance of career and family life,” says Eshkenazi.”

When asked to rate their overall satisfaction with working in the supply chain field on a 0-10 scale, 80% of respondents provided a rating of 8 and above. Furthermore, an overwhelming majority (82%) said they are likely to stay working in the supply chain field for the next five years.

Although there was still a gap between men's and women's salaries, it appears to be narrowing, especially for supply chain professionals under 40 where the difference between salaries is less than $1,000.

These results challenge other industries where, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average difference between men's and women's salaries was $10,000 in 2018.

“The supply chain industry offers people of all profiles and backgrounds a fast-track to career advancement, professional and personal satisfaction, and high levels of compensation,” says Eshkenazi. “That's part of the reason our association works with executive recruiting firms like Korn Ferry to help job seekers find the expertise they need in this new era of converging the physical and digital supply chains.”

Additional report findings show:

1. Climbing salaries: Surveyed supply chain professionals received an average base salary increase of 4.2% in 2018, up from the reported 3% pay raise in 2017. Nearly all of the respondents (91%) received an increase.
2. Time off and flexibility: Nearly all respondents receive holiday pay, and 80% have three weeks or more of vacation. More than half are offered flexible schedules and can work from home if needed.
3. Certifications correlate with higher income: Supply chain professionals who hold one certification reported a median salary that was 18% higher than those who are not certified. Furthermore, each additional certification earned correlates with an additional rise in salary.

“Finally, it is interesting to note that our findings are closely aligned with those in the ‘2019 Logistics Management Salary Survey' released earlier this year,” says Eshkenazi. “Many of the same issues are addressed by professionals on similar career trajectories…ultimately leading to the C-Suite.”

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