According to Salary.com, the median pay for a supply chain manager in Tennessee is around $116,000, with the range typi- cally falling between $90,465 and $145,733. The current demand for supply chain talent in the Middle Tennessee area outpaces the supply of new graduates. A study by global logistics provider Dalsey, Hillblom, and Lynn (DHL) indicates six to nine unfilled job openings for every supply chain graduate. Location, Location, Location With 50% of the United States popula- tion living within 650 miles of Nashville, it is a geographic sweet spot since its loca- tion often translates to one- or two-day truck delivery times to more than 75% of all U.S. markets. Supply chain management professionals play a critical part in companies, provid- ing forecasts, ensuring raw materials are available, and confirming that the right people are in the right place at the right time. The industry also has tremendous career growth opportunities as more com- panies grow and locate in the Middle Ten- nessee region, Tarpey said. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that transportation and material moving accounted for 120,000 jobs in the Middle Tennessee area in May 2022, or about 11.6% of local employment. “It’s a career field that’s hot right now, so there are a lot of job growth opportuni- ties, and it’s a field people are interested in because they want to be part of the so- lution of ‘‘how do I keep materials flow- ing’ so we can maintain our standard of living?” said MTSU Department of Man- agement professor Dr. Cliff Welborn. Tarpey added, “People choose to go into supply chain management for several rea- sons. Probably the most well-communi- cated reason is the number of current opportunities in this continually growing field that pay well above the average entry-level jobs in Middle Tennessee.” Supply chain professionals tend to be in- dividuals who enjoy solving problems and can communicate across the various levels of an organization. “Supply chain management jobs typically include the use of analytical and problem- solving skills to solve complex and critical challenges for companies,” he said. Supply Chain Management programs are offered at multiple Tennessee colleges ranging from community colleges to pub- lic and private universities. Community Colleges and Universities in Tennessee offering Supply Chain Management n Motlow State Community College Smyrna, Tullahoma, Columbia, McMinnville, Sparta and Fayetteville, TN n Volunteer State Community College Gallatin, Tennessee n Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee n Lipscomb University Nashville, Tennessee n Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee n Tennessee State University Nashville, Tennessee n University of Memphis Memphis, Tennessee n University of Tennessee Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee Tennessee Career Guide | 2024-2025 89 Tennessee’s Top Careers MTSU’s Supply Chain Management program is one of the fastest- growing programs in the university’s Jones College of Business. Beginning in 2018, the program has seen more than a 500% increase in students. In 2020, MTSU’s online master’s in supply chain management was ranked nationally for affordability. MTSU’s Jones College is one of the top 1.5% of business schools in the world. Visit mtsu.edu/program/supply- chain-management-b-b-a for additional information. The Information on this career is submitted and sponsored by
