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The differences between material controllers and materials specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials specialist has an average salary of $44,143, which is higher than the $41,064 average annual salary of a material controller.
The top three skills for a material controller include computer system, purchase orders and hazardous materials. The most important skills for a materials specialist are customer service, logistics, and data entry.
| Material Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $41,064 | $44,143 |
| Hourly rate | $19.74 | $21.22 |
| Growth rate | -3% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 93,578 | 38,001 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| 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.
A materials specialist is responsible for researching efficient and high-quality materials for production and manufacturing processes, following the designs and specifications of the engineering team and design analysts. Materials specialists identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and vendors and determine the suitability of these items in the supply chain. They conduct data and statistical analysis to develop strategic techniques that would minimize the company's expenditures and cost. A materials specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing expense reports and discuss findings to the senior management.
Material controllers and materials specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Average salary | $41,064 | $44,143 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $68,000 | Between $24,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Lancaster, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Aviation Technology Group | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material controller and a materials specialist in terms of educational background:
| Material Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 47% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | - |
Here are the differences between material controllers' and materials specialists' demographics:
| Material Controller | Materials Specialist | |
| Average age | 45 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2% | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% |
| 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, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 6% |