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The differences between inventory technicians and warehouse associates 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 $32,863 average annual salary of a warehouse associate.
The top three skills for an inventory technician include customer service, patient care and patients. The most important skills for a warehouse associate are pallets, work ethic, and customer service.
| Inventory Technician | Warehouse Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $36,199 | $32,863 |
| Hourly rate | $17.40 | $15.80 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 212,629 | 215,910 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| 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.
Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.
Inventory technicians and warehouse associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Inventory Technician | Warehouse Associate | |
| Average salary | $36,199 | $32,863 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $47,000 | Between $26,000 And $40,000 |
| Highest paying City | Caldwell, ID | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Idaho | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Uline |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an inventory technician and a warehouse associate in terms of educational background:
| Inventory Technician | Warehouse Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between inventory technicians' and warehouse associates' demographics:
| Inventory Technician | Warehouse Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 68.5% Female, 31.5% | Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3% |
| 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |