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The differences between inventory control leads and materials planners can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an inventory control lead and a materials planner. Additionally, a materials planner has an average salary of $58,467, which is higher than the $45,155 average annual salary of an inventory control lead.
The top three skills for an inventory control lead include logistics, inventory adjustments and physical inventory. The most important skills for a materials planner are supply chain, MRP, and purchase orders.
| Inventory Control Lead | Materials Planner | |
| Yearly salary | $45,155 | $58,467 |
| Hourly rate | $21.71 | $28.11 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 50,694 | 23,019 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Inventory Control Lead oversees supplies in an organization, aiming to meet market demands and avoid oversupply. They perform regular inspections and assessments, review invoices and other documentation, monitor product distribution operations, and produce regular progress reports. It is their responsibility to address issues and concerns, resolve them promptly, and efficiently maintain smooth workflow operations. Moreover, an Inventory Control Lead manages different teams, encouraging them to reach goals while implementing company policies and guidelines.
Usually working in a manufacturing setting, a materials planner's role is to manage the supply flow and inventory of materials. Their responsibilities revolve around liaising with vendors and other external agencies, processing purchase orders, monitoring the quality of supplies to ensure it is according to the standards, and coordinating with various teams to learn their needs. Furthermore, as a planner, it is essential to devise strategies to resolve any issues, all while adhering to the company's policies and standards.
Inventory control leads and materials planners have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Control Lead | Materials Planner | |
| Average salary | $45,155 | $58,467 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $72,000 | Between $45,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Romeoville, IL | Oakland, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an inventory control lead and a materials planner in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Control Lead | Materials Planner | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Western Carolina University |
Here are the differences between inventory control leads' and materials planners' demographics:
| Inventory Control Lead | Materials Planner | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 67.9% Female, 32.1% | Male, 52.7% Female, 47.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |