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What does an inventory assistant do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Inventory auditors are responsible for creating and monitoring inventory reports and for recording various products and stock. Often, an inventory auditor works full-time hours in a warehouse, delivery company, business establishment, or mall. Their job includes traveling to different locations, and they may work with multiple industries. They count an item's quantity and compare the inventory record to physical inventory to ensure there is no missing product.

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Inventory assistant responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real inventory assistant resumes:

  • Perform research and data analysis to monitor inventory movement, logistics metrics, and identify and lead process improvement initiatives.
  • Perform scans of merchandise using an RGIS handheld computer to complete inventory audits on retail establishments

Inventory assistant skills and personality traits

We calculated that 34% of Inventory Assistants are proficient in Customer Service, Cycle Counts, and Physical Inventory. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.

We break down the percentage of Inventory Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 34%

    Performed professional and courteous front-line customer service duties while processing hundreds of accurate daily transactions for personal and business customers.

  • Cycle Counts, 14%

    Cycle counts with recommendation on items/parts to supervisor for verification on adjustments be made within their computer maintenance management system.

  • Physical Inventory, 10%

    Inventory Specialist: Maintained a continuous physical inventory cycle.

  • Inventory Control, 6%

    Devised ways to optimize inventory control procedures by identifying shortage levels all while collaborating with warehouse and upper management.

  • Data Entry, 5%

    Ensured timely and accurate data entry of system-wide orders into PeopleSoft.

  • Inventory Process, 5%

    Assisted with inventory processing and valuation

"customer service," "cycle counts," and "physical inventory" are among the most common skills that inventory assistants use at work. You can find even more inventory assistant responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an inventory assistant to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what inventory assistants do because "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Additionally, an inventory assistant resume shows how inventory assistants use communication skills: "answer multi-line phone system skills used microsoft excel organization team work communication across all departments analytical problem solving rapid data entry"

Customer-service skills. Another essential skill to perform inventory assistant duties is customer-service skills. Inventory assistants responsibilities require that "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom." Inventory assistants also use customer-service skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "assisted in operational customer interaction, cash flow, data entry and telecom services. "

Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of inventory assistants is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday inventory assistant duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "input vehicle details into computer system and ensures inventory spreadsheet is current. "

Math skills. A big part of what inventory assistants do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to inventory assistant responsibilities because "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical inventory assistant tasks: "used basic math skills such as adding and subtracting, multiplying and dividing. "

All inventory assistant skills

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Compare different inventory assistants

Inventory assistant vs. Warehouse clerk

A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse. Companies require their warehouse clerks to have many skills, such as an operating forklift or other machinery to transport large and heavy goods. Warehouse clerks must also possess abilities like knowledge in Warehouse Management Software programs and detailed-oriented capable of noticing small errors in orders.

If we compare the average inventory assistant annual salary with that of a warehouse clerk, we find that warehouse clerks typically earn a $3,847 lower salary than inventory assistants make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between inventory assistants and warehouse clerks are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like customer service, cycle counts, and physical inventory.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, inventory assistant responsibilities require skills like "inventory control," "inventory process," "erp," and "inventory adjustments." Meanwhile a typical warehouse clerk has skills in areas such as "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "logistics," and "pallets." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Warehouse clerks tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,595. In contrast, inventory assistants make the biggest average salary, $33,459, in the transportation industry.The education levels that warehouse clerks earn slightly differ from inventory assistants. In particular, warehouse clerks are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an inventory assistant. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory assistant vs. Receiving clerk

Usually assigned at a warehouse or retail store, a receiving clerk's primary role is to accept product deliveries upon arrival and sign necessary documents, prioritizing the accuracy of all invoices. It is also the task of a receiving clerk to unload heavy packages, verify its contents, place it in the appropriate storage place, and keep records for inventory. They must process returns should it be necessary. There are also instances where a receiving clerk may have to engage with retailers and vendors, ensuring that all shipments arrive in time.

Receiving clerk positions earn lower pay than inventory assistant roles. They earn a $3,929 lower salary than inventory assistants per year.A few skills overlap for inventory assistants and receiving clerks. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "customer service," "cycle counts," and "physical inventory. "

Each career also uses different skills, according to real inventory assistant resumes. While inventory assistant responsibilities can utilize skills like "inventory process," "rf," "erp," and "place orders," receiving clerks use skills like "pallets," "cleanliness," "stock merchandise," and "load trucks."

Receiving clerks earn a lower average salary than inventory assistants. But receiving clerks earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $33,299. Additionally, inventory assistants earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $33,459 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Receiving clerks tend to reach similar levels of education than inventory assistants. In fact, they're 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory assistant vs. Customer service, warehouse

A customer service warehouse is primarily in charge of providing customer support, mainly through calls and correspondence. Their responsibilities typically revolve around answering inquiries, addressing and troubleshooting problems, processing refunds, maintaining records of all transactions, and referring them to other services when necessary. There are also instances when they must perform follow-up calls, offer products and services, discuss product specifications and promotions, develop sales strategies, and generate leads through research and analysis. Moreover, they must maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.

On average scale, customer services, warehouse bring in lower salaries than inventory assistants. In fact, they earn a $4,611 lower salary per year.By looking over several inventory assistants and customer services, warehouse resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "cycle counts," "physical inventory," and "inventory control." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from inventory assistant resumes include skills like "customer service," "data entry," "inventory process," and "inventory counts," whereas a customer service, warehouse is more likely to list skills in "quality customer service," "strong customer service," "cleanliness," and "safety procedures. "

Customer services, warehouse make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $31,263. On the other hand, inventory assistants are paid the highest salary in the transportation industry, with average annual pay of $33,459.customer services, warehouse typically earn similar educational levels compared to inventory assistants. Specifically, they're 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Inventory assistant vs. Receiver

A receiver is responsible for confirming receipt of items delivered from distribution centers to the warehouse. Receivers carefully evaluate order invoices, ensuring the correct quantity of the items, and inspect the merchandise for any possible mislabeling and defects. They also coordinate with the distributors for replacement and verifications concerning the delivery. A receiver must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially on billing discrepancies by utilizing specific shipping software to monitor the delivery activities.

Receivers tend to earn a lower pay than inventory assistants by an average of $3,010 per year.While their salaries may vary, inventory assistants and receivers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "cycle counts," and "inventory control. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between inventory assistants and receivers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an inventory assistant might have more use for skills like "physical inventory," "inventory process," "warehouse inventory," and "inventory counts." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of receivers require skills like "math," "basic math," "ladders," and "pet. "

The manufacturing industry tends to pay the highest salaries for receivers, with average annual pay of $33,859. Comparatively, the highest inventory assistant annual salary comes from the transportation industry.receivers reach similar levels of education compared to inventory assistants, in general. The difference is that they're 2.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of inventory assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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