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The differences between inventory controllers and materials specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials specialist has an average salary of $44,143, which is higher than the $36,911 average annual salary of an inventory controller.
The top three skills for an inventory controller include inventory control, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a materials specialist are customer service, logistics, and data entry.
| Inventory Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $36,911 | $44,143 |
| Hourly rate | $17.75 | $21.22 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 140,496 | 38,001 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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 materials specialist is responsible for researching efficient and high-quality materials for production and manufacturing processes, following the designs and specifications of the engineering team and design analysts. Materials specialists identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and vendors and determine the suitability of these items in the supply chain. They conduct data and statistical analysis to develop strategic techniques that would minimize the company's expenditures and cost. A materials specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing expense reports and discuss findings to the senior management.
Inventory controllers and materials specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Average salary | $36,911 | $44,143 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $24,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, MA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | General Dynamics Mission Systems | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory controller and a materials specialist in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory controllers' and materials specialists' demographics:
| Inventory Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |