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What is a material controller and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

A material controller is responsible for the management, requisition, and inspection of goods in warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They ensure that the operations and products adhere to safety regulations and health standards.

They are mostly involved with the production process and product inventory. The quality of goods received and shipped is one of their priorities. They guarantee that the goods are correctly labeled, stored, and accounted for. They also consult with department managers regarding issues, schedules, costs, and requirements such as the volume of materials needed for production.

Their manual and electronic records of product logistics and inventory are vital and useful for auditing and verification. This is why they must have strong organizational skills and a keen eye for details. They may also be obligated to operate certain warehouse equipment such as forklifts.

Working toward the position of a material controller requires at least a high school diploma. Some employers prefer candidates with a degree or certificate in mechanical or electrical fields. Safety training is also mandatory since they need to keep the workplace in a safe and orderly condition.

ScoreMaterial ControllerUS Average
Salary
3.2

Avg. Salary $41,064

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.8

Growth rate -3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 6.96%

Black or African American 10.04%

Hispanic or Latino 16.60%

Unknown 4.93%

White 60.95%

Gender

female 28.19%

male 71.81%

Age - 45
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 45
Stress level
7.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
5.3

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.9

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Material controller career paths

Key steps to become a material controller

  1. Explore material controller education requirements

    Most common material controller degrees

    Bachelor's

    47.2 %

    Associate

    21.8 %

    High School Diploma

    18.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific material controller skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Computer System11.64%
    Purchase Orders11.36%
    Hazardous Materials9.73%
    FAA6.44%
    MSDS5.03%
  3. Complete relevant material controller training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New material controllers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a material controller based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real material controller resumes.
  4. Research material controller duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and coordinate customer delivery commits between production, engineering and logistics.
    • Assist to establish EDI with vendors.
    • Perform cleaning duties, range from cleaning sales floor to cleaning windows.
    • Provide training in SPC, wafer cleaning, final inspection and reactor operations.
  5. Prepare your material controller resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your material controller resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a material controller resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable material controller resume templates

    Build a professional material controller resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your material controller resume.
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
    Material Controller Resume
  6. Apply for material controller jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a material controller job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first material controller job

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Average material controller salary

The average material controller salary in the United States is $41,064 per year or $20 per hour. Material controller salaries range between $24,000 and $68,000 per year.

Average material controller salary
$41,064 Yearly
$19.74 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do material controllers rate their job?

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Material controller reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

i enjoy the art of stock control ensuring that stocks do not run out completely before others are ordered the balancing of what comes in and what goes out.

Cons

seeing stock turning obsolete.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2020
Pros

Customer service aspect

Cons

Whirlwind or fire working and overlapping responsibilities


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

Kicking people off the boat when they are not productive.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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