What is the salary and career path for a supply chain director?
Supply chain directors fall in the broad Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers code, SOC 11-3071, whose OEWS May 2025 median is $107,230 a year ($51.55 an hour), from $65,120 at the 10th percentile to $194,900 at the 90th. Directors sit high in that band — the code lumps supervisors and executives together, so a genuine director role typically pays toward and above the median rather than at the bottom. BLS projects 6.1% growth over 2024–2034 with about 18,500 openings a year across the code. There is no licence; the role is built on sourcing, planning and P&L results, with ASCM CSCP or ISM CPSM the recognised professional credentials.
- Supply Chain Directors earn a national median $107,230/yr ($51.55/hr) (BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3071); the top 10% clear $194,900.
- No licence exists; supply chain directors are hired on sourcing, S&OP and P&L results, with ASCM CSCP or ISM CPSM the recognised professional credentials and an MBA common at the top.
- BLS projects 6.1% growth 2024–34 with about 18,500 openings a year across the broad SOC 11-3071 code, though a genuine director role clears the $107,230 median comfortably.
- Pay reaches the $194,900 top decile through enterprise sourcing, planning and network strategy — the commercial spine of the supply chain rather than a single function.
Career Path
How do you become a supply chain director?
Supply chain or sourcing manager
Owning a category, a plant's planning, or a logistics lane; entry to the code sits near the 10th percentile of $65,120.
Supply chain director
Leading sourcing, planning and logistics for a business unit with P&L trade-offs, around the $107,230 median for SOC 11-3071.
Senior director, integrated supply chain
Multi-site, multi-category leadership with S&OP ownership pays toward the 75th percentile of $146,770.
VP of supply chain
Enterprise network, sourcing and planning strategy across the company reaches the 90th percentile at $194,900.
BLS Salary Data
Which state pays supply chain directors the most in 2026?
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3071. National median: $107,230. Full salary guide →
Pay Comparison
How does supply chain director pay compare to related roles?
Head-to-head against the roles supply chain directors most often weigh against. BLS OEWS May 2025 medians.
Takeaway: supply chain directors rank 1 of 4 on median pay among the comparable roles above, with a projected +6.1% employment change 2024–34 (BLS Employment Projections). Pay position and projected demand together are what determine how quickly supply chain directors clear offers across the GlobalCybers placement network.
Methodology & Sources
How this guide is sourced and reviewed
Wages (BLS): All median and percentile figures are BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3071 (supply chain directors) and the matching SOC codes for each comparison role. OEWS is sampled on a rolling 3-year basis and published ~10 months after collection, so treat it as a firm anchor rather than a spot rate.
Job growth: Projected 2024–34 employment change, and the average annual openings figure, are from the BLS Employment Projections program, by occupation. Openings are a per-year average over the projection decade, not a decade total.
Licensing & credentials:Requirements are drawn from the issuing state licensing boards and the certifying body behind each credential — not from third-party aggregators.
Demand signal:Any statement about how quickly this role clears offers reflects GlobalCybers placement request volume across the trailing 12 months — our own network data, offered as a directional real-world indicator alongside BLS, not a market-wide survey.
Credentials
What licences and certifications do supply chain directors need?
The Association for Supply Chain Management's end-to-end credential covering design, planning, execution and improvement of the supply chain. See all state licences →
The Institute for Supply Management's credential focused on sourcing, supplier management and category strategy — the procurement-heavy path.
The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals' tiered credential, weighted toward logistics and integrated supply-chain strategy.
Expected at the director level; BLS notes related work experience is required for this management code and advanced degrees are common at the top.
Tools & Software
What tools and software do supply chain directors use on the job?
⚙️ Core Tools & Equipment
📊 BLS Employment Data, SOC 11-3071
Salary Levers
How do supply chain directors earn above the $107,230 BLS median?
Scope and spend under management
Directors owning multi-site, multi-category supply chains sit toward the $146,770 seventy-fifth percentile; single-function roles sit far below the $107,230 median
Margin and cash results
Documented cost-out from sourcing and reductions in working capital while holding service are what move a director toward VP pay
S&OP and cross-functional leadership
Owning the demand-supply reconciliation across sales, operations and finance is the responsibility that defines the director tier
Enterprise strategy scope
Network design, sourcing and planning strategy across the whole company is what reaches the $194,900 top decile
This Route vs. College
Is becoming a supply chain director worth it vs. a 4-year degree?
The entry route into this role, set against a four-year degree. Same starting line, side by side.
Entry-level (10th percentile) and all-level median wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, SOC 11-3071. Student-debt figure: median federal borrower balance for bachelor's-degree completers. Starting-salary comparison is illustrative and varies by field and region.
FAQ
Supply Chain Director Career, Frequently Asked Questions
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