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The differences between inventory managers and supply chain 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 manager and a supply chain manager. Additionally, a supply chain manager has an average salary of $100,414, which is higher than the $62,768 average annual salary of an inventory manager.
The top three skills for an inventory manager include PET, direct reports and customer service. The most important skills for a supply chain manager are supply chain, logistics, and project management.
| Inventory Manager | Supply Chain Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $62,768 | $100,414 |
| Hourly rate | $30.18 | $48.28 |
| Growth rate | -6% | - |
| Number of jobs | 30,717 | 37,773 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A supply chain manager is an individual who takes responsibility for managing hardware, equipment, and any other logistical details of an organization. Supply chain managers work alongside the external partners for parts and raw material procurement. They make sure that global companies coordinate with their sources of goods. These professionals also assess their suppliers and negotiate corporate contracts with vendors. The skills they needed include technical understanding, project management, cost accounting skills, and business ethics.
Inventory managers and supply chain managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Manager | Supply Chain Manager | |
| Average salary | $62,768 | $100,414 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $91,000 | Between $72,000 And $139,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Vermont |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | McKinsey & Company Inc |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Professional |
There are a few differences between an inventory manager and a supply chain manager in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Manager | Supply Chain Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 54% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between inventory managers' and supply chain managers' demographics:
| Inventory Manager | Supply Chain Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |