Step-By-Step Guide
Although there are other paths to take, here is a brief overview of steps you can take to become a logistics assistant:
1. Make sure you have the right personal traits for this work
2. Pursue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business
4. Get business operations work experience as a student
5. Get a job as a supply chain/logistics assistant after graduation
6. Advance into roles of greater responsibility and pay, or into roles in related fields
Reading on below will give you a good idea of what you'll need to get a job as a logistics assistant in the United States or Canada. We've also included helpful occupational information, such as what you’ll be doing, what you could earn, and job postings in your area!
What Education Will I Need?
The education you will need to get a job as a logistics assistant varies by employer. Some employers will only require a high school diploma, while others will prefer that you have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, Business Administration or Supply Chain Management.
What is a Logistics Assistant? - General Job Description
Logistics assistants are supply chain operations workers that are responsible for performing various warehouse related functions, such as updating and maintaining inventory control databases, and ensuring that orders are received, verified for accuracy, and tracked.
They may also be responsible for negotiating with manufacturing sales representatives on costs of goods.
What Do They Do? - Typical Job Duties
Although the specific duties logistics assistants perform may vary depending on factors such as their level of responsibility, and the size and type of their employer (among other factors), they are generally responsible for the following:
• Checking logistics invoices against service requests submitted by procurement staff
• Verifying the invoices and submitting them to the logistics manager for approval
• Processing logistics requests from programs and ensuring all necessary follow-up action is completed
• Monitoring and summarizing all expenditures and providing activity reports to the logistics manager
• Liaising with customer to schedule, coordinate and ensure receipt of goods
• Monitoring the status of incoming supplies
• Maintaining inventory control database
• Keeping the clearing agent informed of all inbound shipments and ensuring that all documentation necessary for clearing is provided
What Experience Will I Need?
Similar to the educational requirements, the amount of experience you’ll need will vary by employer. For positions involving more responsibility, employers will likely want to see that you have experience in some level of logistics or operations work (such as inventory control, or even general work in a warehouse environment).
For some jobs, you won’t require any experience, but in this case you would likely need an education in business, or a related field. In some cases, you may not need either education or experience.
Success Tip: Pursuing an education in business, while accumulating relevant operations experience while you’re a student, is an excellent way to advance your career quickly after graduation!
Should I Become a Logistics Assistant?
If you have the following personal traits you’ll be well suited for work as a logistics assistant:
• You can take direction from others
• You enjoy having clear and established guidelines for your work
• You have a mature approach to work activities
• You have a sense of initiative and responsibility
• You’re willing to be accountable for the accuracy of orders received and shipped
• You’re interested in a career with plenty of opportunities for advancement
• You're not opposed to working in a warehouse environment
What is the Salary of a Logistics Manager?
The actual wages and salaries of logistics assistants can vary greatly, typically depending on the following factors, including:
• Their level of education and experience
• The amount of responsibility inherent in their job
• The size and type of their employer
• Whether they work part-time or full-time hours
• The structure of their financial benefits package
• The region in which they work
• Their salary negotiating abilities
• Many other factors
Unfortunately, there is no salary data available from government sources for the profession of ‘logistics assistant’. We can however, get a good idea of what they earn by looking at the earnings of workers in closely related occupations.
Logistics Assistant Salary in Alberta: According to the 2018 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, the average salary level of Albertans working in the “Administrative Assistant” occupational group is $46,279 per year.
Salary - British Columbia: According to WorkBC (Province of British Columbia), those working in the “Administrative assistants” occupational group earn an annual provincial median salary of $45,760.
Salary - United States: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary level of Americans working in the “Secretaries & Administrative Assistants” occupational group is $46,240 per year.
Who Creates Jobs for Logistics Assistants?
Jobs for logistics assistants can typically be found with employers in virtually any sector of industry that ship or receive products on a regular basis. Types of organizations that hire logistics assistants can include, among others:
• Companies that manufacture, distribute or sell retail, commercial or industrial goods
• Transportation and shipping companies
• Engineering firms
• Government agencies (all levels of government)
• Colleges and universities
• Health care organizations and hospitals
• Entertainment facilities and production companies (such as arenas and sports teams)
• Non-profit organizations and charities
Current Job Openings
Our job board below has "logistics assistant" postings in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia:
What Career Advancement Opportunities Are Available?
If you demonstrate a strong work ethic, dedication and competence as you gain experience, you will have plenty of opportunities to advance into roles of greater responsibility and pay.
For example, you could move into supervisory and management roles such as Team Leader, Scheduler, Operations Manager or Supply Chain and Logistics Manager. You could also move into roles in related fields, such as Purchaser, Purchasing Manager or Transportation Planner.
With additional education, such as in accounting, HR or computer science, you could also potentially move into positions in other areas of business, such as Accountant, Business Analyst, or Labor Relations Manager.
What are Careers Similar to This One?
Listed below are careers that may be in the same field, or they may involve many of the same skills, competencies and/or responsibilities as “logistics assistant”:
• Inventory Control Specialist
• Supply Chain & Logistics Manager
What Scholarships Are There for Aspiring Logistics Assistants?
The “Relevant University Majors" section below lists fields of study that are relevant to becoming a logistics assistant. You can search for relevant scholarships by finding those majors on our "Any Field of Study Scholarships” page.
Success Tip: Apply for any scholarships that you even barely qualify for, as there are millions of dollars of scholarships that go unused every year due to a lack of applicants!
References
Please consult the following resources to learn more about what it takes to become a logistics assistant:
• Occupational Profile: “Administrative Assistant.” (n.d.). Alberta Government - Alberta Learning Information Service. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
• Office and Administrative Support: “Secretaries and Administrative Assistants.” (n.d.). Occupational Outlook Handbook - United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: “Logisticians.” (n.d.). United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
• Job Profile: “Logistics and Distribution Manager.” AGCAS editors. (July, 2016). Prospects. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
• Careers: “Supply Chain Manager.” (December 8, 2016. National Careers Service. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
• Explore Careers: “Administrative assistants.” (January 18, 2018). WorkBC website - Province of British Columbia. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
Please Note: Some of the information for this career guide was compiled from actual job postings, which due to their brief online presence are not listed here as sources.
Relevant University Majors
We have career guides for over 60 university majors in our database. Below we've outlined those that are most relevant for this profession. Click on the links to see what else you can do with these majors!
