Mid-Level

Logistics Specialist

A specialist in logistics operations, you handle the hands-on work of moving freight through the network — shipment execution, carrier coordination, documentation, customer communication, and the operational details that turn plans into delivered loads.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
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Work Personality
C
I
E
R
S
A
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Investigativeanalytical, curious
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Logistics Specialists
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
Mapped SOC categories:
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Logistics Specialist

A typical day often involves shipment processing, carrier communication, exception handling, and the steady cadence of documentation — building bills of lading, working with carriers on pickup and delivery details, handling claims and exceptions, fielding customer service questions. You might find yourself switching between the TMS, email, and three phone calls in a single hour. Shipments executed and exception resolution are the operating measures.

Friction tends to come from the volume of small exceptions — short shipments, address changes, accessorial charges, OS&D claims — that don't fit standard process and require judgment. Variance across employers is sharp: at major shippers and 3PLs the work is system-supported and procedural; at smaller operations or specialty freight you're handling more complexity manually.

It fits people who are detail-oriented, operationally calm, and customer-attentive under volume. APICS CLTD credentials anchor advancement. The trade-off is the high-transaction nature of the work — the desk never clears, and the satisfaction comes from steady throughput rather than discrete projects.

IndependenceAbove avg
AchievementAbove avg
RecognitionAbove avg
Working ConditionsModerate
RelationshipsModerate
SupportModerate
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Logistics Specialists (SOC 13-1081.00, 13-1081.01, 13-1081.02), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Exploring the Logistics Specialist career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$49K–$132K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
707K
U.S. Employment
+16.7%
10yr Growth
79K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

Systems AnalysisWritingSystems EvaluationComplex Problem SolvingMathematicsReading ComprehensionReading ComprehensionJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningCritical Thinking
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1081.0013-1081.0113-1081.02

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.