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The differences between inventory leads and inventory managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become an inventory lead, becoming an inventory manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an inventory manager has an average salary of $62,768, which is higher than the $42,812 average annual salary of an inventory lead.
The top three skills for an inventory lead include PET, direct reports and customer service. The most important skills for an inventory manager are PET, direct reports, and customer service.
| Inventory Lead | Inventory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $42,812 | $62,768 |
| Hourly rate | $20.58 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 19,766 | 30,717 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
The inventory lead acts as an inventory manager who oversees the inventory level of a business and leads inventory or warehouse employees in record-tracking of new stocks delivered and shipped out. The inventory manager is responsible for recording daily deliveries, assessing new shipments, and analyzing various suppliers. To optimize operations, he/she manages employee's schedules, shipments, and deliveries and develops interpersonal ability and leadership skills while working with marketing, sales, and purchasing managers.
An inventory manager is responsible for supervising the overall inventory operations, monitoring supplies and materials, and checking the accuracy of data reports from the inventory associates. Inventory managers' duties include validating stock levels using record software tools, determining the availability of stocks for purchase orders, inspecting the incoming and outgoing shipments, and addressing product concerns by communicating with suppliers and third-party vendors. An inventory manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the staff's performance and manage customers' inquiries and complaints.
Inventory leads and inventory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Lead | Inventory Manager | |
| Average salary | $42,812 | $62,768 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $60,000 | Between $43,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | East Windsor, NJ | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Washington |
| Best paying company | Accenture | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between an inventory lead and an inventory manager in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Lead | Inventory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 39% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between inventory leads' and inventory managers' demographics:
| Inventory Lead | Inventory Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.3% Female, 33.7% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 8.5% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |