MILAN – Logistics is increasingly confirming itself as central to global economic balances and, according to Federlogistica, will represent one of the sectors with the greatest opportunities for professional and salary growth in the coming years. This is supported by the president of the association, Davide Falteri, who cites the results of the US study “Salary & Compensation 2026” conducted by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), dedicated to the evolution of professions related to supply chain and procurement.
“Logistics is not only the present; it is especially the future,” states Falteri, highlighting how geopolitical tensions, international conflicts and continuous changes in supply chains have made the role of those who manage transport, procurement and supply chain strategic.
The study indeed shows growth in salaries and bonuses in the logistics sector significantly higher than that recorded in other economic, industrial and commercial sectors. According to Federlogistica, control of the supply chain and procurement today represents one of the decisive hubs of the world economy and will continue to gain value in the coming years.
From logistics operators to supply chain directors
The evolution of the sector concerns not only economic aspects, but also the professional profile of the figures involved. With the increase in operational complexity, global risks and customer expectations, the role of the logistics manager is expanding well beyond traditional transport and warehousing activities.
Today, logistics professionals are called upon to oversee technological investments, manage risks along international supply chains and integrate supply chain strategies with production and corporate objectives.
According to data collected in the “Salary & Compensation 2026” questionnaire by Logistics Management, sector executives administer increasingly large budgets, coordinate complex systems, drive investments and face operational disruptions in real time, trying to balance costs, services and risk management.
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Despite the increase in responsibilities and workloads, the sector continues to attract both young professionals and figures with long experience. Many of those interviewed report solid career paths and strong professional involvement, while acknowledging growing levels of stress.
“The profession is solid – underlines the president of Federlogistica – and the entire productive but also distributive economy continues to depend on logistics and procurement management as strategic functions, in a market where procurement management cannot succeed without strong integration with logistics, and logistics cannot succeed without procurement management.”
Salaries rising in the United States
The survey, based on over 160 qualified responses from the US market, highlights a significant recovery in salaries after the decline recorded in 2025.
In 2026 the average annual salary in the sector reached $126,400, up from $120,600 the previous year.
Il 32% dei professionisti intervistati dichiara redditi compresi tra 150.000 e 249.999 dollari, mentre il 9% supera i 250.000 dollari annui.
Resta stabile la fascia intermedia: il 31% percepisce tra 100.000 e 149.999 dollari. Permangono tuttavia differenze significative legate a dimensioni aziendali, responsabilità e aree geografiche: il 10% degli intervistati guadagna meno di 60.000 dollari.
Il 57% ha ricevuto un aumento salariale rispetto al 2025, il 38% ha mantenuto invariata la retribuzione e solo il 5% ha registrato una diminuzione, contro il 10% dell’anno precedente.
Esperienza e ruoli sempre più strategici
Lo studio evidenzia inoltre un settore fortemente caratterizzato dall’esperienza professionale. Il 42% degli intervistati ha un’età compresa tra 55 e 64 anni, mentre il 17% supera i 65 anni. Solo il 3% ha meno di 35 anni.
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Le retribuzioni seguono direttamente il livello di esperienza: la fascia 55-64 anni registra una media di 133.215 dollari annui, quella 45-54 anni di 129.990 dollari e quella 35-44 anni di 120.880 dollari. Gli under 35 percepiscono mediamente 74.875 dollari.
Tra le figure professionali più diffuse emergono i logistics manager e director, che rappresentano il 17% del campione, seguiti dai VP e general manager con l’11%, oltre ai ruoli legati a supply chain, operations ed engineering.
Anche la posizione ricoperta influisce in maniera significativa sulle retribuzioni: VP e general manager raggiungono compensi medi di 215.650 dollari, i direttori e manager del trasporto arrivano a 148.255 dollari, mentre i warehouse manager si attestano su 86.200 dollari.
Infine, il 76% degli intervistati segnala un aumento delle responsabilità negli ultimi due o tre anni, contro il 67% registrato nella precedente rilevazione. Solo il 2% dichiara invece una riduzione del proprio ambito operativo.
