The president of the Federation analyzes the results of a study conducted in the United States by the Institute for Supply Management
To reflect on the new global balances of logistics, Federlogistica relaunches an American study from which it emerges that whoever controls the supply chain and procurement controls the strategic nodes of the world economy. And consequently will gain more and more. “Logistics is not only the present; it is especially the future,” reiterates the president of Federlogistica, Davide Falteri, who in support of this thesis puts not only the proliferation of conflicts and tensions with immediate consequences precisely on the continuous reprogramming of the supply chain, but also the results of a study conducted in the United States by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). A study called “Salary & Compensation 2026” from which an incontrovertible fact emerges: the trend of salaries and bonuses for managers, executives, and more generally for all employees in the logistics sector follows a growth line clearly more pronounced than any other economic activity, both industrial and commercial. In simple terms, the real social elevator in the coming years, with record increases in remuneration, will take place in the sector of transport management, procurement and supply chain management.
From logisticians to supply chain directors
Even the professionalism of those working in the logistics sector will be quite different from the current one: with the increase in operational complexity, the proliferation of risks and the tightening of customer expectations, the role of the logistics manager will expand well beyond the boundaries of transport and warehousing. Already today, logistics professionals oversee technological investments, manage risks along global supply chains and align supply chain strategy with broader business and production objectives.
According to the responses to the “Salary & Compensation 2026” questionnaire by Logistics Management, managers manage larger budgets, but also complex systems, driving capital investments and responding to disruptions in real time, balancing cost, service and risk.
Despite longer hours and a broader scope, the profession (the research concerns the United States, but according to Falteri it would also provide similar findings in Europe) continues to attract both new and experienced professionals. Many respondents describe steady career growth and strong job involvement, while acknowledging increasing levels of stress and heavier workloads.
The profession is solid – emphasizes 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”.
The 2026 study confirms this with new data showing steady growth in compensation, expanding responsibilities and a profession now at the center of business performance. The survey, based on the strategic hubs of the US market, examined over 160 qualified responses.
Salaries growing strongly in the US
After a decline in 2025, salaries are growing again.
The annual average reached $126,400 in 2026, compared to $120,600 the previous year. This indicates that the 2025 decline was an isolated episode, not a trend. 32% earn between $150,000 and $249,999, while 9% exceed $250,000.
The middle bracket remains stable: 31% earn between $100,000 and $149,999. However, 10% earn less than $60,000, a sign that compensation varies significantly based on company size, region, and responsibility. 57% of respondents received a raise compared to 2025; 38% maintained the same salary; only 5% recorded a decrease (compared to 10% in 2025).
The sector is dominated by experience: 42% are between 55 and 64 years old, and 17% are over 65. Only 3% are under 35. Salaries follow experience: $133,215 (55-64 years), $129,990 (45-54), $120,880 (35-44). Those over 65 earn $113,570, while those under 35 earn $74,875.
The role continues to expand
The most common roles include /director (17%), VP/general manager (11%), and other supply chain, operations, and engineering roles (8% each). Title greatly impacts compensation: VP/general manager earn $215,650, transportation manager $148,255, corporate management $147,700. Warehouse manager $86,200, procurement $106,700. 76% report an increase in responsibilities over the last 2-3 years (compared to 67% the previous year), while only 2% saw a reduction.
