Career at a First Glance
Medical logistics specialists are qualified health professionals who focus on procurement, distribution and life cycle management of all required medical supplies in treatment centers and other medical activities. Check out the chart below for more general information:
| Education Required | Bachelor's degree (all logisticians) |
| Job Duties | Review logistical functions; propose strategies; manage product life cycle |
| Certification | Optional with APICS or DAU |
| Median Salary (2021) | $53,539 per year** |
| Job Outlook (2020-2030) | 30% growth (all logisticians)* |
Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; **Payscale.com
Medical Logistics Specialist Job Duties
Medical logistics specialists perform tasks such as moving products using forklifts and hand trucks. They also manage property, repair management problems and perform inventory and financial management procedures by ordering, receiving and storing supplies. Logisticians are known for having a great understanding of supply chain management. Additional job duties can include understanding clients' needs and how to achieve those; directly allocating products, materials and supplies; reviewing logistical functions; identifying areas that are in need of improvement; developing business relationships; and managing a product's life cycle.
Education Requirements
There are companies that hire logisticians who have obtained only an associate's degree; however, due to the complexity of systems and supply chains, many will prefer to hire those who have a bachelor's degree. The most common degrees for this profession were in business, supply chain management and systems engineering.
Logisticians are also likely to get certification, even though it is not required, through APICS or the International Society of Logistics (DAU). To obtain certification, logisticians are typically required to have obtained a certain education credential and work experience in addition to passing an exam.
Earnings of a Medical Logistics Specialist
The median salary of medical logistics specialists was found to be $53,539 per year as of 2021, according to Payscale.com. This is lower than the median of all logisticians, who earned a median of $76,270 per year as of 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The highest-paid 10% earned $122,580 or more, while the lowest-paid 10% earned $44,190 or less. Most logisticians work full-time and even overtime to ensure that operations stay on schedule; 1 in 4 worked full-time in 2020.
The Job Outlook
According to the BLS, the job outlook for logisticians was projected to grow by 30% between 2020 and 2030. This employment estimate will be driven by the need for logistics in the transportation of goods in the global market. Employers want logicians that can move products more effectively, solve dilemmas and seek improvement in weak areas. All in all, job opportunities and prospects are expected to be good because there will need to be replacements for those who are retiring and there will be demand for candidates who have experience and want to work for the military.
Alternative Careers
Becoming a medical logistics specialist is a great way to use your critical thinking, problem-solving and organizational skills. However, if there are parts of this job description that you find interest in but want to see some similar careers, check out the 3 listed below.
