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The differences between inventory technicians and materials technicians 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 $35,721 average annual salary of a materials technician.
The top three skills for an inventory technician include customer service, patient care and patients. The most important skills for a materials technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.
| Inventory Technician | Materials Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $36,199 | $35,721 |
| Hourly rate | $17.40 | $17.17 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 212,629 | 33,176 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 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.
A materials technician is responsible for inspecting and testing tools and materials required for production operations and manufacturing processes, ensuring its stability and efficiency to support business functions and produce high-quality outputs. Materials technicians review the production process and recommend cost-reduction resources by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. They also identify the safety and reliability of materials to prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards within the work area. A materials technician must be able to operate manufacturing equipment to develop improved techniques and write report findings.
Inventory technicians and materials technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Technician | Materials Technician | |
| Average salary | $36,199 | $35,721 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $27,000 And $47,000 |
| Highest paying City | Caldwell, ID | Rahway, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Oak Ridge National Laboratory |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between an inventory technician and a materials technician in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Technician | Materials Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory technicians' and materials technicians' demographics:
| Inventory Technician | Materials Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% | Male, 72.6% Female, 27.4% |
| 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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |