Logistics Engineers
Machines can already do 60% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 85%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Logistics Engineers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 60% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 16% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 85% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 251,040 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $82,320 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 70% for contact with people.
- Also called: Acquisition Logistics Engineer, Logistics Engineer, Logistics Specialist, Reliability Engineer.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze or interpret logistics data involving customer service, forecasting, procurement, manufacturing, inventory, transportation, or warehousing | 13% | 84% to 97% | |
| Conduct logistics studies or analyses, such as time studies, zero-base analyses, rate analyses, network analyses, flow-path analyses, or supply chain analyses | 12% | 60% to 90% | |
| Identify cost-reduction or process-improvement logistic opportunities | 8% | 45% to 85% | |
| Develop logistic metrics, internal analysis tools, or key performance indicators for business units | 7% | 50% to 85% | |
| Propose logistics solutions for customers | 7% | 82% to 87% | |
| Evaluate effectiveness of current or future logistical processes | 5% | 60% to 90% | |
| Apply logistics modeling techniques to address issues, such as operational process improvement or facility design or layout | 4% | 60% to 90% | |
| Develop or maintain cost estimates, forecasts, or cost models | 4% | 76% to 86% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills logistics engineers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Construction Managers53% of tasks by 2035 · US median $114,990
- Broadcast Technicians64% of tasks by 2035 · US median $59,570
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists58% of tasks by 2035 · US median $130,220
- Industrial Engineers71% of tasks by 2035 · US median $102,440
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Logistics Engineers?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of logistics engineers?
Machines can do 60% of the tasks of logistics engineers today and 85% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 13-1081.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Logistics Engineers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/logistics-engineers/