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The differences between inventory control managers and material managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an inventory control manager and a material manager. Additionally, a material manager has an average salary of $96,125, which is higher than the $59,401 average annual salary of an inventory control manager.
The top three skills for an inventory control manager include inventory control procedures, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a material manager are supply chain, logistics, and customer service.
| Inventory Control Manager | Material Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $59,401 | $96,125 |
| Hourly rate | $28.56 | $46.21 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 61,002 | 43,759 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
An inventory control manager is an individual who is responsible for directing all tasks related to inventory management of a company. They manage the allocation of materials, supplies, and finished goods as well as design strategies to minimize the cost or time to move goods. They are required to lead a team of storage or warehouse personnel to help them with the actual inventory count. Inventory control managers must also develop a business relationship with their suppliers or vendors.
A material manager is responsible for monitoring inventories and stock supplies, ensuring the adequacy of materials needed for manufacturing or other operations, depending on the organization's industry. Material managers meet with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiating contracts that would fit the budget goals of the company without compromising quality. They manage the distribution of resources throughout the organizations' department and provide purchase reports for the management. A material manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to address the needs of an organization for smooth operations.
Inventory control managers and material managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Control Manager | Material Manager | |
| Average salary | $59,401 | $96,125 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $85,000 | Between $72,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | Penguin Solutions | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory control manager and a material manager in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Control Manager | Material Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between inventory control managers' and material managers' demographics:
| Inventory Control Manager | Material Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0% | Male, 77.7% Female, 22.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 11% |