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The differences between inventory management specialists and supply chain specialists 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 specialist. Additionally, a supply chain specialist has an average salary of $71,414, 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 a supply chain specialist are supply chain, logistics, and chain management.
| Inventory Management Specialist | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $56,032 | $71,414 |
| Hourly rate | $26.94 | $34.33 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 108,982 | 25,129 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
It is the responsibility of the supply chain specialist to procure materials to manufacture and ship products. The supply chain specialist determines and orders the proper quantities and negotiates pricing and their shipment terms. They oversee the delivery of necessary materials for the fulfillment of orders made by customers. The specialists need to develop strong skills in project management, business ethics, problem-solving, understanding of financial statements, communication skills, and cost accounting skills.
Inventory management specialists and supply chain specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Management Specialist | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average salary | $56,032 | $71,414 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $81,000 | Between $49,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | Tracy, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Maryland | California |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Government | Energy |
There are a few differences between an inventory management specialist and a supply chain specialist in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Management Specialist | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between inventory management specialists' and supply chain specialists' demographics:
| Inventory Management Specialist | Supply Chain Specialist | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8% | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% |
| 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, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |