Inventory management specialist vs inventory control manager

The differences between inventory management specialists and inventory control 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 management specialist and an inventory control manager. Additionally, an inventory control manager has an average salary of $59,401, which is higher than the $56,032 average annual salary of an inventory management specialist.

The top three skills for an inventory management specialist include customer service, inventory management system and purchase orders. The most important skills for an inventory control manager are inventory control procedures, sales floor, and customer service.

Inventory management specialist vs inventory control manager overview

	Inventory Management Specialist	Inventory Control Manager
Yearly salary	$56,032	$59,401
Hourly rate	$26.94	$28.56
Growth rate	1%	-3%
Number of jobs	108,982	61,002
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does an inventory management specialist do?

An inventory management specialist is responsible for maintaining the adequacy of stock supplies to support customers' needs. Inventory management specialists help develop inventory processes and strategies to keep the supplies organized and free of any defects while on storage. They also monitor inventory costs and process orders through various software tools, requiring them to have a working knowledge of computer systems and the ability to operate warehouse equipment and machinery on moving merchandise around the warehouse.

What does an inventory control manager do?

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.

Inventory management specialist vs inventory control manager salary

Inventory management specialists and inventory control managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Inventory Management Specialist	Inventory Control Manager
Average salary	$56,032	$59,401
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $81,000	Between $41,000 And $85,000
Highest paying City	Tracy, CA	Richmond, CA
Highest paying state	Maryland	Maryland
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Penguin Solutions
Best paying industry	Government	Retail

Differences between inventory management specialist and inventory control manager education

There are a few differences between an inventory management specialist and an inventory control manager in terms of educational background:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Inventory Control Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Inventory management specialist vs inventory control manager demographics

Here are the differences between inventory management specialists' and inventory control managers' demographics:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Inventory Control Manager
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%	Male, 71.0% Female, 29.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	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%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between inventory management specialist and inventory control manager duties and responsibilities

Inventory management specialist example responsibilities.

Plan, purchase and manage various commodities through the use of various MRP systems.
Experience decision-maker in high-pressure environments; efficiently manage vital decision points autonomously to ensure mission accomplishment in multiple combat deployments.
Scan product bins with RF scanner for refills.
Update the department's inventory with the RF scanner.
Update on hand counts to ensure accurate ordering through the POS system.
Create purchase requisitions base on MRP recommendations, as well as external factors.

Inventory control manager example responsibilities.

Manage day-to-day logistics operations of shipping agricultural herbicides/pesticides.
Develop new reporting techniques to improve inventory accuracy, KPI's, and root cause analysis.
Develop company training program to certify all hazmat employees to 49 CFR, IATA, & IMDG regulations.
Maintain inventory accuracy above customer KPI target.
Experience handling Hazmat materials and following/training protocols.
Monitor adjustments between perpetual inventory and WMS inventory.

Inventory management specialist vs inventory control manager skills

Common inventory management specialist skills

Customer Service, 23%
Inventory Management System, 15%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Sales Floor, 5%
Stock Merchandise, 5%
Safety Standards, 5%

Common inventory control manager skills

Inventory Control Procedures, 11%
Sales Floor, 11%
Customer Service, 10%
Team Work, 8%
Logistics, 7%
Continuous Improvement, 4%

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Inventory Management Specialist
Inventory Management Specialist vs Inventory Control Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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