Report: logistics careers posted top-ten pay raise in 2017

The salaries for logisticians rose quickly from 2016 to 2017, cracking the top-ten list of U.S. professions with the highest wage increases, according to a study of government data released today.

Logisticians' paychecks rose by 21.7 percent over that period, from a median salary of $52,572 in 2016 to $63,960 in 2017, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data analyzed by Finder.com, a New York-based financial services advisory firm. That quick climb earned logisticians 10th place on a list of professions with the biggest pay increases, Finder.com said in the report, "10 jobs most likely to provide a pay raise."

Out of all 565 professions defined by the BLS, the three jobs with the greatest raises over that period were: veterinarians (38 percent), surveying and mapping technicians (36.8 percent), and producers and directors (28 percent increase). Rounding out the top ten were: financial clerks (27.4 percent), emergency medical technicians and paramedics (26.3 percent), meeting, convention and event planners (24.6 percent), food processing workers (23.6 percent), parts salespersons (23 percent), and counter attendants, cafeteria, food concessions, and coffee shop (23 percent increase).

Logisticians also ranked high when those same 10 professions are sorted by salary alone, as opposed to their rate of increase. Judged by size of paycheck on the list, logisticians had the third highest median salaries for 2017, finishing behind only veterinarians ($95,680) and producers and directors ($77,428).

The research suggests that the best way to get a raise may be to dedicate oneself to work in a high-paying field, as opposed to reading the help-wanted ads, Finder.com Consumer Advocate Jennifer McDermott said in a statement. "For many people looking to boost their income this year, attempting a pay raise in their current position appears much more achievable than changing companies, upskilling in a new field, or starting a side hustle. However, as our research shows, not all industries are equal when it comes to boosting salary bands," McDermott said.

Professionals who have been in their current role for a year or more, and have been making a valuable contribution are in a good position to request a pay increase, said McDermott. She recommended that employees seeking raises approach their bosses with an outline of why they deserve a raise, detailing their achievements, asking for a specific figure, and being prepared to negotiate.