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The differences between inventory controllers and shipping and receiving associates 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 $32,408 average annual salary of a shipping and receiving associate.
The top three skills for an inventory controller include inventory control, customer service and data entry. The most important skills for a shipping and receiving associate are shipping receiving, pallets, and customer service.
| Inventory Controller | Shipping And Receiving Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $36,911 | $32,408 |
| Hourly rate | $17.75 | $15.58 |
| Growth rate | 1% | -3% |
| Number of jobs | 140,496 | 168,957 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Years of experience | - | 12 |
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.
Usually, shipping and receiving associates work in retail or a warehouse to manage the incoming and outgoing materials and products. Shipping and receiving associates keep records of all the materials received and shipped. They develop the mailing labels as well as the shipping documents. It is their job to make sure that orders are filled appropriately. The skills necessary for this job include basic math, communication, organization, and attention to detail.
Inventory controllers and shipping and receiving associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Controller | Shipping And Receiving Associate | |
| Average salary | $36,911 | $32,408 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $26,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, MA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Washington |
| Best paying company | General Dynamics Mission Systems | La Colombe Coffee Roasters |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory controller and a shipping and receiving associate in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Controller | Shipping And Receiving Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory controllers' and shipping and receiving associates' demographics:
| Inventory Controller | Shipping And Receiving Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% | Male, 82.1% Female, 17.9% |
| 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, 11.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |