Salary guide, May 2025
Materials Manager pay, United States
Manufacturing Headhunters uses the published BLS OEWS figures below. They describe the mapped occupation and area, not an individual offer.
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The median annual wage for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in the United States was $107,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $82,440 and $146,770.
Also searched as: Materials & Logistics Manager, Inventory Manager. These titles share this page because BLS reports them under one occupation.
Broader occupation · SOC 11-3071 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title.
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $65,120 | $82,440 | $107,230 | $146,770 | $194,900 |
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $31.31 | $39.64 | $51.55 | $70.56 | $93.70 |
BLS estimated 221,180 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 11-3071 Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers, U.S.. Official occupation data · Official area tables. Released 2026-05-15.
How does pay compare in the target metros?
| Metro | Median | 25th to 75th | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $104,010 | $74,410 to $157,110 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $102,530 | $72,770 to $159,760 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $100,220 | $67,910 to $144,180 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $110,780 | $83,850 to $153,400 | 850 | 0.81 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $133,640 | $107,710 to $172,850 | 10,410 | 0.77 |
| Northern New Jersey within New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $133,640 | $107,710 to $172,850 | 10,410 | 0.77 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $104,790 | $83,460 to $145,130 | 9,600 | 1.67 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $124,120 | $94,920 to $160,490 | 8,570 | 1.34 |
Rank every metro for Materials Manager
What should you know about pay by manufacturing industry, United States?
Same BLS occupation, national estimates for each manufacturing industry (NAICS) BLS publishes, May 2025. Industry names are BLS labels.
- Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing$160,620
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing$148,380
- Motor Vehicle Manufacturing$147,200
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing$141,640
- Communications Equipment Manufacturing$141,290
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing$138,870
- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing$137,720
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing$136,680
- Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing$135,050
- Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing$134,790
- Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing$132,600
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$131,510
- Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing$130,960
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing$129,490
- Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing$128,690
Bars show up to 15 industries with exact annual medians. The table lists every published industry.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31-33 | Manufacturing | 29,990 | $91,600 | $117,660 | $155,760 |
| 311000 | Food Manufacturing | 4,260 | $89,080 | $106,550 | $134,650 |
| 325000 | Chemical Manufacturing | 4,160 | $93,110 | $121,050 | $162,170 |
| 333000 | Machinery Manufacturing | 3,200 | $94,520 | $126,790 | $167,470 |
| 336000 | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 3,070 | $100,650 | $131,510 | $162,160 |
| 334000 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | 2,610 | $103,030 | $137,720 | $176,870 |
| 3330A1 | Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | 2,460 | $94,400 | $127,080 | $165,200 |
| 332000 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing | 2,190 | $82,850 | $103,430 | $129,390 |
| 339000 | Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 1,830 | $96,040 | $129,490 | $164,910 |
| 326000 | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 1,750 | $83,990 | $105,790 | $136,020 |
| 325400 | Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 1,650 | $103,290 | $135,050 | $173,270 |
| 3250A1 | Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) | 1,610 | $87,320 | $117,840 | $149,000 |
| 326100 | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 1,530 | $84,800 | $106,450 | $136,510 |
| 335000 | Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing | 1,270 | $95,940 | $115,790 | $152,450 |
| 334500 | Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | 1,210 | $103,930 | $136,680 | $172,550 |
| 336400 | Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1,200 | $116,130 | $138,870 | $169,250 |
| 339100 | Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing | 1,110 | $111,270 | $141,640 | $178,370 |
| 312000 | Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing | 1,100 | $87,490 | $122,160 | $158,270 |
| 312100 | Beverage Manufacturing | 1,070 | $88,050 | $123,800 | $158,560 |
| 3320A1 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) | 1,060 | $85,810 | $111,420 | $142,230 |
| 311900 | Other Food Manufacturing | 1,000 | $91,830 | $113,840 | $141,980 |
| 336300 | Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing | 980 | $93,190 | $118,630 | $145,620 |
| 3250A2 | Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) | 900 | $82,870 | $99,260 | $128,900 |
| 334400 | Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 860 | $105,850 | $148,380 | $211,510 |
| 322000 | Paper Manufacturing | 770 | $95,440 | $118,740 | $150,670 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 740 | $75,700 | $98,670 | $126,220 |
| 327000 | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 740 | $75,700 | $98,670 | $126,220 |
| 339900 | Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing | 720 | $82,890 | $103,130 | $130,780 |
| 3320A2 | Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3323 and 3324 only) | 690 | $88,700 | $100,400 | $122,480 |
| 331000 | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 660 | $95,730 | $119,420 | $155,170 |
| 311600 | Animal Slaughtering and Processing | 630 | $90,030 | $105,330 | $129,700 |
| 322200 | Converted Paper Product Manufacturing | 610 | $93,300 | $115,500 | $149,480 |
| 311500 | Dairy Product Manufacturing | 570 | $84,490 | $103,180 | $132,090 |
| 324000 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 570 | $95,200 | $125,580 | $154,830 |
| 324100 | Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing | 570 | $95,200 | $125,580 | $154,830 |
| 311400 | Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing | 560 | $87,420 | $107,890 | $134,590 |
| 311800 | Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing | 560 | $91,940 | $103,970 | $124,950 |
| 335900 | Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing | 460 | $98,500 | $127,570 | $170,940 |
| 321000 | Wood Product Manufacturing | 440 | $60,480 | $91,450 | $122,820 |
| 323000 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 430 | $71,360 | $96,710 | $119,790 |
| 323100 | Printing and Related Support Activities | 430 | $71,360 | $96,710 | $119,790 |
| 335300 | Electrical Equipment Manufacturing | 430 | $95,510 | $110,580 | $136,880 |
| 337000 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing | 420 | $77,660 | $96,240 | $129,210 |
| 336100 | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 380 | $109,690 | $147,200 | $176,080 |
| 332700 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 360 | $75,260 | $94,650 | $110,510 |
| 333600 | Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing | 360 | $121,380 | $160,620 | $212,630 |
| 3370A1 | Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing (3371 and 3372 only) | 350 | $80,300 | $96,470 | $128,090 |
| 311100 | Animal Food Manufacturing | 300 | $80,000 | $101,310 | $137,590 |
| 321900 | Other Wood Product Manufacturing | 300 | $48,480 | $80,430 | $98,400 |
| 311300 | Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing | 280 | $94,480 | $130,960 | $160,250 |
| 311200 | Grain and Oilseed Milling | 270 | $90,420 | $109,850 | $133,390 |
| 334200 | Communications Equipment Manufacturing | 270 | $101,670 | $141,290 | $187,800 |
| 335200 | Household Appliance Manufacturing | 270 | $93,100 | $99,430 | $160,610 |
| 333300 | Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing | 250 | $80,520 | $97,510 | $136,430 |
| 315000 | Apparel Manufacturing | 230 | $75,970 | $89,960 | $139,380 |
| 326200 | Rubber Product Manufacturing | 220 | $74,830 | $101,190 | $124,090 |
| 336200 | Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing | 220 | $84,130 | $102,770 | $137,620 |
| 331100 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | 210 | $97,930 | $134,790 | $188,870 |
| 332710 | Machine Shops | 210 | $68,430 | $105,650 | $118,750 |
| 334100 | Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing | 210 | $99,650 | $132,600 | $176,180 |
| 315200 | Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing | 190 | $76,860 | $93,200 | $140,780 |
| 322100 | Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills | 160 | $112,520 | $124,760 | $153,240 |
| 313000 | Textile Mills | 150 | $68,680 | $88,720 | $124,650 |
| 332720 | Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing | 150 | $78,940 | $89,650 | $100,750 |
| 331400 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing | 140 | $93,220 | $112,200 | $134,550 |
| 336600 | Ship and Boat Building | 140 | $93,610 | $108,580 | $132,620 |
| 314000 | Textile Product Mills | 130 | $80,340 | $98,250 | $108,450 |
| 333500 | Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing | 130 | $94,620 | $104,250 | $121,470 |
| 331200 | Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel | 120 | $84,990 | $104,010 | $144,710 |
| 335100 | Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing | 110 | $99,510 | $120,830 | $147,570 |
| 331300 | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 100 | $103,680 | $123,990 | $162,680 |
| 311700 | Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging | 90 | $86,250 | $96,490 | $118,950 |
| 313300 | Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills | 80 | $70,020 | $85,250 | $124,950 |
| 321100 | Sawmills and Wood Preservation | 80 | $89,560 | $116,360 | $142,350 |
| 331500 | Foundries | 80 | $94,920 | $112,770 | $135,520 |
| 332800 | Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities | 80 | $66,350 | $90,640 | $106,680 |
| 314100 | Textile Furnishings Mills | 70 | $80,820 | $101,550 | $121,490 |
| 336500 | Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing | 70 | $59,570 | $111,660 | $163,970 |
| 336900 | Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 70 | $105,790 | $128,690 | $137,650 |
| 314900 | Other Textile Product Mills | 60 | $78,940 | $89,970 | $100,530 |
| 321200 | Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing | 60 | $100,380 | $126,430 | $155,990 |
| 337900 | Other Furniture Related Product Manufacturing | 60 | $74,560 | $78,850 | $137,240 |
| 313200 | Fabric Mills | 50 | $75,580 | $103,720 | $126,920 |
| 334300 | Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing | 50 | $62,150 | $97,050 | $118,770 |
| 312200 | Tobacco Manufacturing | 40 | $45,640 | $101,370 | $105,860 |
| 315900 | Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing | 40 | $59,860 | $83,120 | $95,990 |
| 339910 | Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing | 40 | $103,590 | $126,050 | $211,010 |
| 316000 | Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing | 30 | $86,450 | $96,610 | $142,390 |
What should you know about manufacturing pay mix?
For Materials Manager, separate the guaranteed salary from any discretionary bonus or commission arrangement. OEWS includes base rate, guaranteed pay and production incentive pay. It excludes overtime premium, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses. An attendance bonus is not a production bonus; confirm its purpose and treatment rather than adding every bonus to the BLS figure.
Skills-based pay steps affect the base rate when they are part of straight-time pay; BLS does not publish a separate rate for each plant's skill grade. Ask whether a tool allowance is expense reimbursement or wage pay. OEWS does not publish a separate tool-allowance component. Keep these items separate in the offer so the published wage is not mistaken for the whole package.
Pay mix here means how published medians for this one BLS occupation differ across manufacturing industries and against the all-industry median. It does not split pay into base, incentive or overtime. BLS wages are straight-time gross pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials and nonproduction bonuses.
What should you know about two BLS releases?
| Release period | 25th | Median | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | $78,360 | $102,010 | $136,050 |
| May 2025 | $82,440 | $107,230 | $146,770 |
These are two separate BLS estimates from different survey panels. The workers and employers behind them differ, so the gap is not like-for-like pay for the same workers and is not a growth rate. We show no percentage change.
Recruiter's read. Qualitative, not BLS data.
Why fit is difficult?
A materials manager is judged by two numbers that pull against each other: how often the line runs short and how much cash sits in the stockroom. The job usually includes MRP review, cycle counting, receiving, kitting, shipping and a handful of planners and clerks, but the mix varies by plant.
Employers struggle when the inventory record is wrong and nobody trusts it, so planners keep private spreadsheets. Hiring someone who can rebuild trust in the data, without halting production for a wall to wall count, is the real challenge.
What should you know about questions?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
What is the median pay for a Materials Manager?
The median annual wage for Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in the United States was $107,230 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of workers earned between $82,440 and $146,770. This is the broader occupation BLS publishes, not a figure for this exact title.
What does the 10th percentile mean here?
10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than $65,120. 90% earned less than $194,900.
Does this include overtime or bonuses?
Wages for the OEWS survey are straight-time, gross pay, exclusive of premium pay. Base rate; cost-of-living allowances; guaranteed pay; hazardous-duty pay; incentive pay, including commissions and production bonuses; and tips are included. Excluded are overtime pay, severance pay, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses, employer cost for supplementary benefits, and tuition reimbursements.
Is this the pay for a Materials Manager at a plant?
BLS measures this broader occupation across industries. It does not publish a separate wage for this manufacturing title. These are occupation estimates across all industries, not an offer for a particular manufacturing title.
How many people work in this occupation?
BLS estimated 221,180 workers employed in this occupation in the United States.
What should you know about related?
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What does this data mean for your opening?
Materials Managers, tasked with MRP, inventory control, and supply chain accuracy, are classified under SOC 11-3071, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers. This is a very broad occupational definition used by the BLS. Manufacturing Headhunters emphasizes that this means the data captures everyone from logistics supervisors to strategic procurement heads.
The national median for this role is $107,230, which is an increase of $5,220 from the May 2024 median of $102,010. Hiring managers must account for this broad aggregation when using these figures as a starting point for specialized plant-level materials management roles.
The middle-band width is $64,330, defined by the P25 of $82,440 and the P75 of $146,770. This substantial spread captures the difference between entry-level coordination roles and senior, multi-facility strategic management positions. The P10 of $65,120 and P90 of $194,900 further illustrate the market's differentiation based on responsibility and inventory complexity. Remember that these figures are strictly base annual pay, so they do not account for performance bonuses, profit sharing, or stock options that are standard for high-performing managers.
Metropolitan comparisons show a diverse pay range. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA area reports a median of $127,500, a significant change from the prior $104,600. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area reports a median of $133,640, up from $127,600. The location quotient in Los Angeles is 1.37, while New York sits at 0.77. These quotients demonstrate that concentrations of this profession vary wildly, impacting market competition levels, but they should not be confused with local pay or availability stats.
National industry benchmarks help define the pay ceiling. Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing reports a median of $160,620, while Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing sits at $148,380. Motor Vehicle Manufacturing reports $147,200. These figures, significantly higher than the $107,230 national median, underscore the higher value assigned to materials management in complex manufacturing environments. Hiring managers should aim to align their compensation with these industry-specific rows when hiring for roles requiring complex, high-value inventory control.
Which pay questions should you settle before hiring?
The middle-band width of $64,330 is driven by the broad BLS classification, which includes a vast range of management roles in the transportation, storage, and distribution sector. You must use the upper quartiles if your vacancy requires high-level ERP strategy and inventory management experience.
Why is the middle-band width so wide for this role?
The middle-band width of $64,330 is driven by the broad BLS classification, which includes a vast range of management roles in the transportation, storage, and distribution sector. You must use the upper quartiles if your vacancy requires high-level ERP strategy and inventory management experience.
Are these figures for base salary or total compensation?
The data strictly represents base salary only. It does not include variable compensation such as performance bonuses, which are typical for materials management leadership.
How should I handle the discrepancy between the national median and the industry-specific medians?
The national median is a general anchor, whereas the industry-specific medians like the $160,620 for engine manufacturing provide a better proxy for the technical demand of your vacancy. Lean toward the industry benchmarks to stay competitive in manufacturing.
How does the location quotient affect my hiring decision?
The location quotient indicates the density of a role within an area relative to the nation, not how easily you can find a candidate. High quotients in regions like Los Angeles highlight that the role is highly localized there but don't promise immediate candidate availability.
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