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The differences between inventory clerks 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 $32,666 average annual salary of an inventory clerk.
The top three skills for an inventory clerk include customer service, data entry and inventory control. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.
| Inventory Clerk | Inventory Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $32,666 | $36,911 |
| Hourly rate | $15.70 | $17.75 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 204,051 | 140,496 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Inventory clerks or inventory control clerks manage and maintain all inventory coming in and out. They ensure that the items are stored and stocked in their proper places. They have to train less experienced clerks as well as prepare balance and shortage reports. They also need to report any stock issues, place orders when necessary, prepare a list of lacking products, and take note of unusable items. A good inventory clerk must be detail-oriented, organized, and have relevant experience in inventory control.
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 clerks and inventory controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Clerk | Inventory Controller | |
| Average salary | $32,666 | $36,911 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $39,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Everett, MA |
| Highest paying state | Oregon | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | BD | General Dynamics Mission Systems |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory clerk and an inventory controller in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Clerk | Inventory Controller | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory clerks' and inventory controllers' demographics:
| Inventory Clerk | Inventory Controller | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 53.9% 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% |