What Do Logistics Planners Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for logistics planners?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what logistics planners do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Logistics Planners Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about logistics planners by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Logistics Planners analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.
Popular Job Titles For Logistics Planners
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Supply Chain Analysts
- Logistics Specialists
- Production Planners
- Supply Chain Specialists
- Logistics Analysts
- Demand Planners
- Material Planners
- Supply Chain Planners
- Supply Planners
- Materials Planners
- Logistics Associates
- Inventory Control Analysts
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for logistics planners can be found.
Best Industries for Logistics Planners
Logistics Planners Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 15.8%
- Federal Government, Military: 11.7%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 9.1%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 6.9%
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing: 3.4%
- Freight Transportation Arrangement: 3.1%
- Other: 50%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of logistics planners can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2022, about 15.8% of all jobs for logistics planners were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Federal Government, Military (11.7%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (9.1%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (6.9%), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (3.4%) and Freight Transportation Arrangement (3.1%).
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Degree Options for Logistics Planners
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Logistics Planners Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what logistics planners do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work logistics planners do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that logistics planners tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for logistics planners, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Logistics Planners
Based on 99,397 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Logistics Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 52,901 | 53% |
| Purchasing | 24,788 | 25% |
| Logistics | 21,771 | 22% |
| SAP Applications | 20,496 | 21% |
| Procurement | 19,821 | 20% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Logistics Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 46,198 | 46% |
| Operations | 39,279 | 40% |
| Management | 38,424 | 39% |
| Planning | 37,150 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 33,491 | 34% |
Based on 99,397 job postings related to logistics planners, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 53% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for purchasing, logistics, sap applications, procurement and supply chain management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for logistics planners, followed by operations, management, planning, microsoft excel and customer service.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 52,901 | 53% |
| Purchasing | 24,788 | 25% |
| Logistics | 21,771 | 22% |
| SAP Applications | 20,496 | 21% |
| Procurement | 19,821 | 20% |
| Supply Chain Management | 17,489 | 18% |
| Inventory Management | 17,380 | 17% |
| Warehousing | 16,553 | 17% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 14,466 | 15% |
| Project Management | 14,416 | 15% |
| Finance | 13,998 | 14% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 12,720 | 13% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 12,297 | 12% |
| Data Analysis | 11,750 | 12% |
| Process Improvement | 11,717 | 12% |
| Demand Planning | 11,584 | 12% |
| Production Planning | 11,000 | 11% |
| Enterprise Resource Planning | 10,162 | 10% |
| Auditing | 9,435 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Analysis | 9,130 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 46,198 | 46% |
| Operations | 39,279 | 40% |
| Management | 38,424 | 39% |
| Planning | 37,150 | 37% |
| Microsoft Excel | 33,491 | 34% |
| Customer Service | 27,478 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 25,857 | 26% |
| Sales | 23,271 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 22,768 | 23% |
| Detail Oriented | 20,803 | 21% |
| Leadership | 19,742 | 20% |
| Forecasting | 18,603 | 19% |
| Scheduling | 16,007 | 16% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 15,156 | 15% |
| Writing | 14,335 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 13,249 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 11,180 | 11% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 11,027 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 10,881 | 11% |
| Multitasking | 10,758 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Logistics Planners
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Analysts | 22,067 | 15.4% |
| Logistics Specialists | 22,928 | 16% |
| Production Planners | 16,576 | 11.6% |
| Supply Chain Specialists | 13,564 | 9.5% |
| Logistics Analysts | 13,277 | 9.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was supply chain analysts, with 8,979 unique job postings. Logistics specialists were second, with 7,022 postings, followed by production planners, supply chain specialists and logistics analysts.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to logistics planners.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Analysts | 22,067 | 15.4% |
| Logistics Specialists | 22,928 | 16% |
| Production Planners | 16,576 | 11.6% |
| Supply Chain Specialists | 13,564 | 9.5% |
| Logistics Analysts | 13,277 | 9.3% |
| Demand Planners | 9,291 | 6.5% |
| Material Planners | 6,371 | 4.4% |
| Supply Chain Planners | 5,639 | 3.9% |
| Supply Planners | 4,490 | 3.1% |
| Materials Planners | 3,605 | 2.5% |
| Logistics Associates | 4,575 | 3.2% |
| Inventory Control Analysts | 3,565 | 2.5% |
| Supply Chain Consultants | 1,837 | 1.3% |
| Logistics Planners | 2,443 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing Planners | 2,719 | 1.9% |
| Logisticians | 2,023 | 1.4% |
| Transportation Analysts | 1,947 | 1.4% |
| Production Planners/Schedulers | 2,766 | 1.9% |
| Logistics Engineers | 1,906 | 1.3% |
| Supply Chain Data Analysts | 1,626 | 1.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for logistics planners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for logistics planners.
How much do logistics planners make?
Logistics Planners: How do you become one?
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