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The differences between distribution technicians and supply specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a supply specialist has an average salary of $39,791, which is higher than the $33,564 average annual salary of a distribution technician.
The top three skills for a distribution technician include patients, computer system and data entry. The most important skills for a supply specialist are customer service, logistical support, and safety regulations.
| Distribution Technician | Supply Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $33,564 | $39,791 |
| Hourly rate | $16.14 | $19.13 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 154,925 | 27,197 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A distribution technician has a variety of duties and responsibilities, including collecting and delivering materials, receiving documents, packages, and messages, and transporting them safely to their destination. Other tasks that you will likely perform include managing the inventory and completing data entry, preparing documentation and reports, and coordinating logistics for the shipment of products. Additional duties include providing quality service to customers and distributors, resolving inventory discrepancies, and collecting and updating customer information. You may also be tasked to conduct field and laboratory testing of construction materials.
A supply specialist is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of equipment and supplies, including quality maintenance and securing storage of merchandise. Supply specialists manage order requests, verify shipment details, and perform data entry tasks such as updating the database for incoming and outgoing supplies. They should be highly analytical, inspecting the items for any defects and malfunctions, and immediately processing replacement and new stock issuance. A supply specialist should follow the safety protocols at all times to avoid operational hazards and any possible delays.
Distribution technicians and supply specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Distribution Technician | Supply Specialist | |
| Average salary | $33,564 | $39,791 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $25,000 And $61,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vallejo, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | TALENT Software Services |
| Best paying industry | Utilities | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a distribution technician and a supply specialist in terms of educational background:
| Distribution Technician | Supply Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 31% | Bachelor's Degree, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between distribution technicians' and supply specialists' demographics:
| Distribution Technician | Supply Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |