Inventory management specialist vs supply chain coordinator

The differences between inventory management specialists and supply chain coordinators 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 a supply chain coordinator. Additionally, an inventory management specialist has an average salary of $56,032, which is higher than the $50,728 average annual salary of a supply chain coordinator.

The top three skills for an inventory management specialist include customer service, inventory management system and purchase orders. The most important skills for a supply chain coordinator are supply chain, customer service, and logistics.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain coordinator overview

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Coordinator
Yearly salary	$56,032	$50,728
Hourly rate	$26.94	$24.39
Growth rate	1%	28%
Number of jobs	108,982	33,654
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
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 a supply chain coordinator do?

A supply chain coordinator is an individual who is responsible for managing inventory and supply sources to support a company's manufacturing and anticipated demand. Supply chain coordinators must assist in the purchase of materials and services and follow-up with vendors to ensure that the purchase orders have the correct price, freight charge, and delivery date. They coordinate with the quality assurance (QA) inspectors to ensure the quality of the purchased parts and services. Under the directive orders from the logistics manager, supply chain coordinators must also perform inventory cycle counts.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain coordinator salary

Inventory management specialists and supply chain coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Coordinator
Average salary	$56,032	$50,728
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $81,000	Between $33,000 And $76,000
Highest paying City	Tracy, CA	Palmdale, CA
Highest paying state	Maryland	California
Best paying company	NVIDIA	Stepan
Best paying industry	Government	Manufacturing

Differences between inventory management specialist and supply chain coordinator education

There are a few differences between an inventory management specialist and a supply chain coordinator in terms of educational background:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Coordinator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 38%	Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Stanford University	Stanford University

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain coordinator demographics

Here are the differences between inventory management specialists' and supply chain coordinators' demographics:

	Inventory Management Specialist	Supply Chain Coordinator
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%	Male, 50.0% Female, 50.0%
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, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	10%	10%

Differences between inventory management specialist and supply chain coordinator 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.

Supply chain coordinator example responsibilities.

Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.
Monitor MRP health and initiate corrective action when necessary.
Develop, update and maintain procedures and work instructions to reflect current ISO practices.
Maintain the approved supplier database in ERP system, and conduct annual supplier scorecards review meeting.
Surpass understanding and strict adherence of the guidelines set forth by OSHA, FDA regulations and ISO.
Review MRP weekly to order paper, boxes, band wrap, glue, inks as needed to meet production requirements.

Inventory management specialist vs supply chain coordinator 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 supply chain coordinator skills

Supply Chain, 23%
Customer Service, 11%
Logistics, 10%
Purchase Orders, 7%
Management System, 3%
Inventory Management, 3%

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Inventory Management Specialist
Inventory Management Specialist vs Supply Chain Coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

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