Last Reviewed: July 2026
Through supply chain and logistics management, businesses can improve their productivity, reduce costs, boost customer service, and develop a competitive advantage. While logistics is a part of the supply chain, there are key distinctions between these two disciplines. By understanding the difference between supply chains and logistics, you can figure out which field is the right fit for your interests and goals.
This guide is for students and professionals trying to understand how supply chain management and logistics differ. It breaks down what each field covers, the careers and salaries in each, and how to study them.
At a Glance
- Supply chain management involves the entire lifecycle of the product, from sourcing raw materials to delivering the final product.
- Logistics is the movement, storage, and transportation of products and materials within the supply chain network.
- Within these fields, students can pursue careers as supply chain managers, logistics managers, procurement managers, and logisticians. Each career option entails different salaries, job duties, and educational requirements.
What Is a Supply Chain?
The supply chain is a coordinated network that involves all of the sourcing, distribution, storing, and manufacturing activities needed to bring a product to market. It includes everything from sourcing the raw materials to managing reverse logistics.
According to Harvard Business Review, around 37% of jobs in the United States are involved in or dependent on the supply chain (2018). These positions can be involved in different stages of the supply chain.
- Planning: This stage involves forecasting demand and determining which products will be needed. Often, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is used to plan and manage all of the raw materials, staffing, and equipment needed.
- Sourcing: To source raw materials for the manufacturing process, businesses identify potential suppliers, negotiate with vendors, and track supplier performance.
- Manufacturing: Once products arrive at a manufacturing facility, they can be transformed from raw materials into finished products.
- Delivery: After a sale has been finalized, logistics capabilities and distribution channels help products reach customers.
- Returns: The return process involves returned products, warranties, and recalls. Once a product is returned for whatever reason, the company must be able to process, repair, refurbish, and repackage it.
What Is Logistics?
Logistics is the planning, moving, storing, and delivering of information, goods, and resources as they flow within the supply chain network. The field focuses on how each product ends up at the correct destination and is a major component in supply chain management. According to the Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM), there are a few major functions of logistics (n.d.).
- Order Processing and Fulfillment: The logistics process begins when the customer places an order and ends when the order is fulfilled.
- Material Handling: Specialized equipment ensures that materials are carefully handled throughout the logistics process.
- Inventory Management: Inventory must be tracked, stored, and controlled so that it is ready for production processes.
- Warehouse Management and Storage: Goods must be securely stored in a warehouse until they are ready for shipment. Real-time data ensures better accuracy and efficiency.
- Transportation and Trucking: Optimized routes, carrier contracts, and effective transportation management are necessary to move goods from one location to another.
- Packaging and Labeling: The right packaging and labeling protect products when they are shipped and stored.
- Information Logistics and Control: Through the fast flow of information, businesses can be more precise about product availability and delivery timing.
- Reverse Logistics and Returns Management: If products are returned or recalled for any reason, reverse logistics makes it as easy as possible to return, repair, or recycle the items.
Supply Chain vs. Logistics: Key Differences
While a supply chain includes all of the activities involved in producing and delivering products, logistics focuses on the movement and storage of goods. In essence, logistics is the transactional flow of these goods and resources within the supply chain network.
| Supply Chain | Logistics | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | The supply chain involves the entire process of sourcing, manufacturing, and delivering goods to the final customer. | It entails the movement of goods from one location to another. |
| Primary Focus | With supply chains, the focus is on long-term strategy and end-to-end optimization. | Logistics is a tactical and operational approach that focuses on the movement and storage of goods. |
| Scope | The supply chain involves the sourcing, producing, and transporting of products. | Logistics handles warehousing, transportation, storage, and inventory. |
| Main Activities | Demand forecasting, inventory management, logistics, procurement, returns, customer service, supplier management, and production planning | Transportation, order fulfillment, warehousing, inventory control, packaging, and freight management |
Curious about where you fit in the field of supply chain management? Take our 12-question quiz to see which one of the eight supply chain career archetypes suits your personality.
Supply Chain and Logistics Careers
Supply chain and logistics jobs play a critical role in making sure products get from suppliers to the customer. If you have the right degree and experience, you can pursue one of the following careers in the industry.
| Role | Median salary | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain Manager | $123,000 | Oversees the end-to-end product lifecycle |
| Logistics Manager | $109,500 | Manages the movement, storage, and distribution of goods |
| Procurement Manager | $128,000 | Handles sourcing, negotiations, and supplier relationships |
| Logistician | $82,320 | Analyzes and coordinates the supply chain |
Supply Chain Manager
According to the ASCM, supply chain managers earn a median salary of $123,000 per year (2025). A supply chain manager oversees the end-to-end lifecycle of a product. Through their work, they help organizations reduce costs and increase output.
Logistics Manager
A logistics manager earns a median salary of $109,500 annually (ASCM, 2025). They are responsible for the movement, storage, and distribution of goods at their company.
Procurement Manager
Procurement managers can expect to make a median of $128,000 per year (ASCM, 2025). Typically, they handle contract negotiations, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management.
Logistician
According to the O*Net OnLine, logisticians earn a median wage of $82,320 annually (2026). Logisticians are responsible for analyzing and coordinating their organization’s supply chain. They handle resource allocation, data analysis, inventory activities, and warehousing.
How to Study Supply Chain and Logistics Management
If you’re looking to get started in the field of supply chain or logistics management, you can take a course, complete a certificate, or start a bachelor’s degree to learn more about the industry. Later on, you can pursue a master’s degree in supply chain management. While a degree may not always be required, it can help applicants attain a competitive advantage over other students.
The following are just a few of the different learning opportunities available that focus on these fields.
- Tarleton State University: Students can obtain a master’s degree in logistics and supply chain management.
- Oregon State University: For an online option, students can check out Oregon State University’s bachelor’s degree in supply chain and logistics management.
- ASCM: Through ASCM, students can receive the APICS Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD) certification.
- Institute for Supply Management (ISM): ISM offers the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) certification, which can be completed in as little as six months.
Whether you’re interested in supplier relationships or warehouse management, there are career opportunities available in supply chain management and logistics. Determining which field you are interested in, picking a career, and obtaining the right education can help you succeed in this industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between supply chain and logistics?
The supply chain covers the entire process of sourcing, manufacturing, and delivering a product. Logistics is a part of the supply chain focused specifically on moving, storing, and delivering goods.
Is logistics part of supply chain management?
Yes. Logistics is one component of the broader supply chain, handling the transportation, warehousing, and inventory movement of goods within the larger network.
Which pays more, supply chain or logistics roles?
It varies by title. Supply chain managers earn a median of about $123,000, procurement managers about $128,000, logistics managers about $109,500, and logisticians about $82,320.
Should you study supply chain or logistics?
Choose based on your interests. Supply chain management is broader and more strategic, while logistics is more operational and hands-on. Many degrees cover both, and the roles often overlap.
What careers are there in supply chain and logistics?
Common roles include supply chain manager, logistics manager, procurement manager, and logistician, each with different duties, salaries, and educational requirements.
Which Personality Types Excel in the Supply Chain and Logistics Industry?
In our supply chain quiz, you can see which career archetype matches different skills and interests. Often, people who love studying supply chain and logistics courses fit the conductor and the expeditor archetypes. The conductor optimizes the supply chain so that everything moves smoothly. This personality type typically does well as a production planner or operations manager. Meanwhile, the expeditor is exceptionally good at rerouting around bottlenecks and operating in a crisis. They often find success as logistics coordinators, transportation analysts, and distribution center managers.
Curious about where you fit in the supply chain? If this topic interests you, try our supply chain career quiz to find out which archetype matches your future career path.