The average salary for supply-chain professionals rose 4.1 percent in 2017, outpacing broader U.S. wage gains and those for professionals generally, according to the Institute for Supply Management, a trade group. That is consistent with the sector’s pay growth in recent years.
Salaries could rise even faster in the coming year as businesses grapple with inflation and the growing tensions between the U.S. and key trading partners such as China, said Paul Lee, ISM’s director of research and publications.
A growing set of companies, including retailers, food distributors and appliance makers, say rising increased fuel and transportation expenses have been carving into their profit margins. Passing the higher costs along to consumers has proven difficult.
That amplifies the role of supply-chain executives as the rising costs of getting goods produced and delivered gets the attention of senior corporate leaders. “The C-suite is becoming more and more concerned with not only getting costs right, but also that there are no disruptions in the supply chain,” Lee said.
