Operations and Supply Chain Management Major: Careers, Salaries and Job Outlook

As technological advances have changed the speed and complexity of global competition, operations, logistics and supply chain management have become key functions through which companies can gain strategic advantage.

Operations and Supply Chain Management Career Outlook

A degree in supply chain management and logistics takes graduates to diverse industries such as e-commerce, retail, technology, manufacturing and global shipping. Employers are looking for graduates with industry and functional experience to work in areas such as procurement, warehouse administration, inventory analysis, material management and logistic development.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for logisticians is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2024 to 2034.

What Skills Will You Gain From Majoring in Operations and Supply Chain Management?

An undergraduate operations and supply chain management degree will provide you with the skills you need to achieve your career goals in many industries. An example of the skills this degree provides includes:

• Planning and control of operations
• Sustainable supply chain management and logistics
• Managing queues for service operations
• Revenue management
• Decision making and simulation
• Six Sigma quality implementation
• Data mining for business

The top co-op employers for operations and supply chain management majors include:

• Chubb
• Comcast
• Estée Lauder/Northtec
• Exelon
• Hay Group
• Johnson & Johnson

What Can You Do With an Operations and Supply Chain Management Degree?

Students studying operations and supply chain management at Drexel’s LeBow College of Business have a wide range of career opportunities in diverse industries. The vast majority do not work in manufacturing. Typical positions include supply chain specialist, supply chain analyst, operations manager, procurement specialist, healthcare operations manager and more. Students landed in companies in pharmaceutical, retail, logistics, consumer goods, among many other industries.

Common Job Titles for Operations and Supply Chain Management Graduates

• Logistics Manager
• Operations Team Leader/Operations Manager/Operations Analyst
• Procurement Specialist/Buyer/Purchasing Manager
• Project Manager
• Supply Chain Specialist/Manager/Analyst

What Do Operations and Supply Chain Management Graduates Earn?

The average salary reported one year out for operations and supply chain management graduates in LeBow’s class of 2024 was $66,417. Salary outlook can vary greatly depending on the local job market, skill level and work experience.

Where Drexel LeBow Operations and Supply Chain Management Graduates Work

Graduates of the operations and supply chain management program found jobs at the following companies:

• Amazon
• Aramark
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Comcast
• Estee Lauder
• Goldman Sachs
• Lockheed Martin
• L’Oreal
• PJM
• SAP
• SPS Technologies
• UPS

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations allow you to expand your local and national network while also broadening your skill set through professional development opportunities.

• Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)
• Institute for Supply Management (ISM)
• Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
• Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)

Continuing Education Opportunities

Many operations and supply chain management majors go on to pursue graduate degrees including the MBA. Professional certifications in Six Sigma — offered through organizations such as IASSC and ASQ — are also well-regarded complements to an academic degree and can facilitate career advancement.