How to Become a Logistician in California: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median logistician salary in California is $92,890 per year - 13% above the national median of $82,320 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in supply chain management, logistics, or business.
How to Become a Logistician in California
1. Use operations experience
Driving, dispatch, or warehouse work is directly relevant - employers value people who know freight from the seat.
2. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Supply chain management, logistics, or business administration - online programs fit driving schedules.
3. Start in analysis or coordination
Load planning, inventory analysis, and transportation coordination are the entry desks.
4. Add ASCM/APICS credentials
CLTD and CSCP certifications accelerate advancement.
5. Advance
Logistics manager, supply chain manager, or distribution center leadership.
Requirements in California
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in supply chain management, logistics, or business. There is no occupational license for logisticians in most states, including California. APICS/ASCM certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications before you enroll, as details change.
Logistician Salary in California
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| California entry level (10th percentile) | $57,720 |
| California 25th-75th percentile | $71,910 - $121,470 |
| California median | $92,890 |
| California top earners (90th percentile) | $153,220 |
| U.S. median | $82,320 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 32,940.
The California Job Market: Logistician
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in California | 32,940 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.81 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.12 |
| Mean annual wage in California | $98,300 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.12, California’s demand for logisticians tracks close to the national average.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $50,890 |
| 25th | $64,440 |
| 50th (median) | $82,320 |
| 75th | $106,190 |
| 90th | $133,160 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 241,000 |
| 2034 projected | 281,300 |
| Percent change | +16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a logistician make in California?
The median annual wage for logisticians in California is $92,890 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 13% above the national median of $82,320.
How to become a logistician in California?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in supply chain management, logistics, or business. There is no occupational license for logisticians in most states, including California. APICS/ASCM certifications valued. Confirm employer or role-specific certifications. See the steps on this page.
How many logisticians work in California?
BLS counts about 32,940 logisticians employed in California (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Logistician in Nearby States
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Logisticians (SOC 13-1081), California and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |