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The differences between inventory controllers and distribution technicians 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 $33,564 average annual salary of a distribution technician.
The top three skills for an inventory controller include inventory control, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a distribution technician are patients, computer system, and data entry.
| Inventory Controller | Distribution Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,911 | $33,564 |
| Hourly rate | $17.75 | $16.14 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 140,496 | 154,925 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
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.
A distribution technician has a variety of duties and responsibilities, including collecting and delivering materials, receiving documents, packages, and messages, and transporting them safely to their destination. Other tasks that you will likely perform include managing the inventory and completing data entry, preparing documentation and reports, and coordinating logistics for the shipment of products. Additional duties include providing quality service to customers and distributors, resolving inventory discrepancies, and collecting and updating customer information. You may also be tasked to conduct field and laboratory testing of construction materials.
Inventory controllers and distribution technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Controller | Distribution Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,911 | $33,564 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $41,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, MA | Vallejo, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | General Dynamics Mission Systems | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Utilities |
There are a few differences between an inventory controller and a distribution technician in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Controller | Distribution Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 31% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory controllers' and distribution technicians' demographics:
| Inventory Controller | Distribution Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% | Male, 70.8% Female, 29.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.4% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |