Supply Chain Managers: Starting Your Career in South Carolina

In a world that is increasingly automated, there are still some processes that must be managed by people with in-depth skills. One example is the management of supply chains.

Products,supplies and services must pass through a specific order of events before reaching consumers. The professionals trained to monitor, troubleshoot and manage these systems are called supply chain managers (SCMs) or logisticians.

Logisticians might focus on one or two parts of the supply chain or manage the entire process, depending on their level of education and unique skill set. The normal way for SCMs to find entry-level work in this field is to first obtain a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management or a related business administration field.

If you want to become a logistician, you should expect to complete at least four years of school and you should be detail-oriented and comfortable taking control of complicated systems. You might find work as a supply chain manager in manufacturing, the federal government or private services.

Supply chain management is becoming ever more global, which means the demand for logisticians is bound to continue growing. This is an excellent career field to enter if you want to experience job stability and earn a solid income.

Choices When it Comes to Your Bachelor’s Degree

In South Carolina, there are quite a few four-year options for bachelor’s degrees in SCM. These are some of the schools you may consider when choosing your school:

Anderson University, South Carolina. Anderson is a Christian University that offers a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in supply chain management. There are specialized supply chain classes so that you can gain a strong background in the field. Take courses in operations management, supply chain management, and logistics and distribution.
Southern Wesleyan University. Students can earn a BS in Business Administration at this school, while choosing a supply chain management concentration. Another Christian University, this school is located in Central, South Carolina.
College of Charleston. The BS program here includes study in planning, analysis, global logistics, operations strategy and more. This program is AACSB-accredited.

Augment Your Skills with a Master’s Degree

After you’ve obtained your bachelor’s degree and earned some experience in the workforce, you might choose to return to school for your master’s degree. This will help you further specialize your skills and be hired by more prestigious companies. These are some master’s programs in South Carolina:

Charleston South University Online. This school offers a Master of Science in Analytics. Admission requires an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 and a copy of the applicant’s resume, among other requirements. The degree program is composed of 12 classes.
University of South Carolina.At the Darla Moore School of Business, three Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees are available. The general MBA is an accelerated 10-month program that prepares students to enter the world of business. The International MBA is renowned and prepares students for business around the world. Finally, the Professional MBA is designed for those who are already working and want to complete their MBA.

Non-Traditional Associate Degree Programs

If you’re not ready to pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree, you might consider trying a shorter associate’s degree to learn a bit of the technical side of logistics. These programs are often at community colleges, and in South Carolina they include:

Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College. TheLogistics Certificate program at this school lasts for two semesters and 24 credit-hours. Students in this program will learn basics to run warehouses, meet customer requirements and ensure equipment is being properly operated. If graduates decide to stay in the logistics field, they can pursue further education.
Tri-County Technical College. This school is located in Pendleton and offers a wide variety of associate degrees and certificates in Business Administration. Students may choose to study with a management, marketing or operations management emphasis. They can also study a transportation/logistics certificate to earn technical skills in the field.

Types of Certifications Logisticians Pursue

Some logisticians decide to pursue national credentials after working a few years in the field. By earning a supply chain management credential from APICS, logisticians can improve their resumes and find better jobs. There are four certifications that can be earned by exam, administered by APICS. Soon, APICS will be transitioning into the Association for Supply Chain Management (ACSM).

South Carolina Promises Rising Employment

In 2017, South Carolina logisticians earned a median income of $31.95 per hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Compared to the South Carolina minimum wage of $7.25 per hour that year, logisticians made very strong incomes.

What’s more, the job field is expected to grow more than double the national rate by 2026, with an 18.9 percent change in employment projected by the Projections Managing Partnership (PMP). Logisticians can also expect to see about 380 new job openings per year.

Charleston or Myrtle Beach? The Best Places to Work as a Logistician

The highest numbers of logisticians per city in South Carolina were employed in Charleston and Greenville in 2018. However, the highest levels of logistician employment per 1,000 jobs were found in Charleston and Sumter that same year.

While it seems that Charleston would be the best place to find a job as an SCM, the highest incomes were in the Myrtle Beach area, where logisticians reported a median income of $39.88 per hour. In Charleston, that median income was still good, at $34.68 per hour.

With loads of educational opportunities available and a bright future when it comes to employment levels and income, supply chain management makes an excellent career choice for those who want to enter the business administration field. Start looking at your education options now, so you can get started in your career faster.