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The differences between inventory technicians and inventory clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an inventory technician has an average salary of $36,199, which is higher than the $32,666 average annual salary of an inventory clerk.
The top three skills for an inventory technician include customer service, patient care and patients. The most important skills for an inventory clerk are customer service, data entry, and inventory control.
| Inventory Technician | Inventory Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $36,199 | $32,666 |
| Hourly rate | $17.40 | $15.70 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 212,629 | 204,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Typically working in retail warehouses and establishments, an inventory technician is in charge of maintaining the efficiency of inventory tools and equipment. They usually set guidelines, manage inventory records, operate machines and equipment, troubleshoot problems, and conduct regular maintenance checks. There are also instances where they may produce progress reports and conduct research and analysis. Moreover, an inventory technician must provide technical support to employees and maintain an active communication line for a smooth and safe workflow.
Inventory clerks or inventory control clerks manage and maintain all inventory coming in and out. They ensure that the items are stored and stocked in their proper places. They have to train less experienced clerks as well as prepare balance and shortage reports. They also need to report any stock issues, place orders when necessary, prepare a list of lacking products, and take note of unusable items. A good inventory clerk must be detail-oriented, organized, and have relevant experience in inventory control.
Inventory technicians and inventory clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Technician | Inventory Clerk | |
| Average salary | $36,199 | $32,666 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Caldwell, ID | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Oregon |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | BD |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory technician and an inventory clerk in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Technician | Inventory Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory technicians' and inventory clerks' demographics:
| Inventory Technician | Inventory Clerk | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |