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The differences between material controllers and inventory controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a material controller has an average salary of $41,064, which is higher than the $36,911 average annual salary of an inventory controller.
The top three skills for a material controller include computer system, purchase orders and hazardous materials. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.
| Material Controller | Inventory Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $41,064 | $36,911 |
| Hourly rate | $19.74 | $17.75 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 93,578 | 140,496 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A material controller coordinates the movement of materials between departments. This position's duties include creating records of materials' movements in the company, negotiating with vendors, carrying out safety checks, and ensuring operations follow company and industry regulations. They must work in collaboration with other departments in the company to perform their duties effectively.
An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations. They maintain inventory reports, manage stock supplies, negotiate with third-party vendors for orders of quality products, monitor deliveries, verifying orders for shipment, handling the employee and customers' requests for supplies, and receiving orders efficiently. Inventory controllers keep receipts of all inventory transactions, as well as inspecting the quality of the inventory items, requiring them to have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.
Material controllers and inventory controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Controller | Inventory Controller | |
| Average salary | $41,064 | $36,911 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $68,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | Everett, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | General Dynamics Mission Systems |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material controller and an inventory controller in terms of educational background:
| Material Controller | Inventory Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | - |
Here are the differences between material controllers' and inventory controllers' demographics:
| Material Controller | Inventory Controller | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 6% |