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The differences between inventory associates and inventory controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an inventory controller has an average salary of $36,911, which is higher than the $30,067 average annual salary of an inventory associate.
The top three skills for an inventory associate include ladders, strong work ethic and work ethic. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.
| Inventory Associate | Inventory Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $30,067 | $36,911 |
| Hourly rate | $14.46 | $17.75 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 184,462 | 140,496 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
An inventory associate is responsible for monitoring inventory supplies, ensuring that the supplies are adequate for customers' orders and business' needs. Inventory associates manage order sheets and record inventory reports, check items for possible defects, prepare merchandise for shipment, inspect delivered inventory supplies and return damaged items, organize shelves, and operate basic warehouse equipment. An inventory associate must have strong analytical and data entry skills to input inventory records in the system efficiently and accurately.
An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations. They maintain inventory reports, manage stock supplies, negotiate with third-party vendors for orders of quality products, monitor deliveries, verifying orders for shipment, handling the employee and customers' requests for supplies, and receiving orders efficiently. Inventory controllers keep receipts of all inventory transactions, as well as inspecting the quality of the inventory items, requiring them to have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Inventory associates and inventory controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Associate | Inventory Controller | |
| Average salary | $30,067 | $36,911 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $37,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Everett, MA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Phillips 66 | General Dynamics Mission Systems |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory associate and an inventory controller in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Associate | Inventory Controller | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory associates' and inventory controllers' demographics:
| Inventory Associate | Inventory Controller | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |