Career field
Operations & Logistics Jobs in the USA
Operations and logistics jobs move goods and keep businesses running day to day. The field includes warehouse associates, forklift operators and material handlers in fulfillment and distribution centers; truck drivers, delivery drivers and dispatchers; buyers, procurement specialists and inventory planners; and supply chain analysts and operations managers who plan and improve the whole flow. Manufacturing plants hire production workers, machine operators and quality inspectors. Many entry roles require no degree and train on the job, and some employers offer tuition help or paid certification for advancement. Commercial driving requires a commercial driver's license (CDL), which involves federal and state testing and a medical certificate. Shifts can include nights, weekends and peak-season overtime, so read the schedule section of each posting carefully. Analyst and planning roles increasingly expect Excel and experience with warehouse or ERP software, which can turn floor experience into an office-based career.
Updated
Latest operations & logistics job openings
Common operations & logistics job titles
Select a title to search current openings.
Skills employers ask for
Skills that appear often in postings for this field. Check each posting for its exact requirements.
- Safe material handling and OSHA basics
- Forklift or powered industrial truck certification
- Inventory accuracy
- Warehouse management systems
- Route planning
- Excel for planning and reporting
- ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle
- Process improvement (Lean, Six Sigma)
- Reliability and attendance
- Team coordination
Operations & Logistics pay: how to check what a job pays
Hourly pay, shift differentials and overtime make a big difference in this field. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers hand laborers and material movers, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, and logisticians; many postings list an hourly rate you can compare directly.
We do not publish salary averages of our own. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook and our salary negotiation guide.
Operations & Logistics jobs by city
Explore major US job markets, or search remote openings.
Watch out for job scams
Real employers never charge you to apply. Walk away if you see any of these:
- You are asked to pay for training, equipment, a background check or an application fee.
- They send a check and ask you to buy equipment from their vendor or send part of it back.
- The 'job' is receiving money into your account, or packages at home, and forwarding them.
- You get an offer without a real phone or video interview, often after a chat-only exchange.
Operations & Logistics jobs: frequently asked questions
Do warehouse jobs require experience?
Many warehouse associate and material handler jobs hire without prior experience and train on site. You may need to pass a background check or drug test and be able to lift a stated weight.
How do I get a CDL to drive trucks?
You need a commercial learner's permit, entry-level driver training from a provider on the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, and to pass skills and knowledge tests in your state, plus a DOT medical certificate. Some carriers pay for training in exchange for a work commitment; read those contracts carefully.
Are 'package reshipping' jobs real?
Be very careful. Jobs that ask you to receive packages at home and reship them, often abroad, are a well-known scam that uses you to move stolen goods. The FTC warns about reshipping scams.
What is a supply chain analyst?
A supply chain analyst studies data on orders, inventory, suppliers and shipping to reduce costs and delays. It is a common next step for people with warehouse or purchasing experience who build Excel and data skills.
Job search guides
Plain-English guides for job seekers in the US.
- Spot job scamsLearn the warning signs of fake job offers in the US: fake check and equipment scams, pay-to-train schemes, reshipping and task scams, and how to report them to the FTC and IC3.
- US resume guideA practical guide to the American resume: one or two pages, no photo, the sections recruiters expect, how applicant tracking systems read it, and how to tailor it to each job.
- Interview preparationPrepare for phone, video and in-person interviews in the US: research the employer, answer common and behavioral questions with the STAR method, ask good questions and follow up.
- Salary negotiationHow to research fair pay in the US, answer salary expectation questions, compare total compensation and negotiate a job offer politely, with sample wording.
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