Will AI replace logistics analysts?

Unlikely, though parts of the work are changing. About 1h 3m of an 8-hour shift goes to tasks touched by AI working on its own. The other 6h 57m (87%) stays with people. Separately, BLS expects about 17.6% more of these jobs by 2035 (all jobs: +3.5%).

AI shows up regularly in 3 of 31 tasks, about 1h 3m of a typical shift. The biggest ones:

• Maintain databases of logistics information. (29m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Interpret data on logistics elements, such as availability, maintainability, reliability, supply chain management, strategic sourcing or distribution, supplier management, or transportation. (29m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)
• Develop or maintain payment systems to ensure accuracy of vendor payments. (6m a shift, AI mostly does it alone)

6h 57m of a typical shift, or 87%, goes to tasks with no AI or robot evidence yet. No AI usage or robot deployment has shown up for these so far. The biggest:

• Communicate with or monitor service providers, such as ocean carriers, air freight forwarders, global consolidators, customs brokers, or trucking companies. (34m a shift)
• Apply analytic methods or tools to understand, predict, or control logistics operations or processes. (29m a shift)
• Prepare reports on logistics performance measures. (29m a shift)
• Provide ongoing analyses in areas such as transportation costs, parts procurement, back orders, or delivery processes. (29m a shift)
• Analyze logistics data, using methods such as data mining, data modeling, or cost or benefit analysis. (29m a shift)

Much of it comes down to where and how the work happens. In-person, hands-on and high-stakes work is where AI and robots have made the least headway so far. In the official O*NET survey of people in this job:

• 64% are in constant contact with other people
• 50% say dealing with the public is very or extremely important
• 50% use their hands on tools, objects or controls more than half the time

For the 1 task in this job where AI shows up and timing data exists, a typical request takes about 2h 25m for a person alone and about 17m with AI. These are Claude's own estimates from real conversations in April and May 2026 (Anthropic Economic Index). They describe single requests, not whole workdays, and time saved on a task doesn't mean jobs are cut. The biggest gaps:

• Maintain databases of logistics information (about 2h 25m alone, 17m with AI)

On Indeed, job postings in the Logistic Support sector are at 119% of their February 2020 level (all U.S. postings: 104%), up 5.1% from a year earlier, as of Oct 9, 2026. BLS separately expects about 27,000 openings a year in this job through 2035. Across all U.S. postings, 7.3% now mention AI skills. Sector postings cover more than this one job and move for many reasons besides AI.

The median pay is about $82,320 a year ($39.58 an hour), 61% above the median for all U.S. jobs ($50,980). Most people in this job earn between $50,890 and $133,160 a year; that range covers the middle 80%. Pay figures are from BLS, May 2025, and vary a lot by state and employer. Pick a state to compare:

BLS projects growth of 17.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% growth for all jobs. That's about 300,000 jobs in 2035. It expects about 27,000 openings a year, mostly from people retiring or changing careers. These projections don't single out AI as a cause.

About 251,000 people in the U.S., roughly 0.16% of all workers (BLS, May 2025). That makes it the 150th largest of the 796 jobs on this site. BLS expects about 300,000 in 2035.

The most common requirement is a bachelor's degree: about 64% of people in the job said so in the official O*NET survey. O*NET rates the job at level 4 of 5 for preparation, which usually means: bachelor's degree. Requirements vary by state and employer, especially for licensed work.

These come from the job's official skill ratings and from the tasks that AI and robots touch least today. Building them keeps you strong in the parts of the work that still need a person:

• Skills that matter more here than in most jobs: Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring
• Get strong at the parts of the job that stay with people (listed above), which take 6h 57m of a typical shift
• Tools employers list: Tableau, Structured query language SQL, SAP software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Power BI
• Learn to use AI well on the tasks where it already shows up in this job (listed above)

These use similar skills. Matches come from 109 official ratings of skills, knowledge and work activities, and each needs the same or less preparation unless the official list relates the jobs directly:

• Logisticians (46m touched, $82k median pay)
• Customs Brokers (2h 25m touched, $81k median pay)
• Business Continuity Planners (42m touched, $83k median pay)
• Logistics Engineers (2h 8m touched, $82k median pay)
• Supply Chain Managers (0m touched, $107k median pay)

Each task carries its own evidence label. For this job: 3 observed in real AI use, 28 with no AI or robot evidence found. The minutes per task are estimates, not measured hours, and "no evidence" doesn't prove a task is safe.