Material controller vs production clerk

The differences between material controllers and production clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a material controller and a production clerk. Additionally, a material controller has an average salary of $41,064, which is higher than the $32,281 average annual salary of a production clerk.

The top three skills for a material controller include computer system, purchase orders and hazardous materials. The most important skills for a production clerk are basic math, data entry, and safety procedures.

Material controller vs production clerk overview

	Material Controller	Production Clerk
Yearly salary	$41,064	$32,281
Hourly rate	$19.74	$15.52
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	93,578	241,271
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	High School Diploma, 31%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a material controller do?

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.

What does a production clerk do?

Production clerks are involved with parts, warehousing, and inventory management operations. Those who choose this career path will be required to review and distribute production, work, and shipment schedules, as well as confer with department supervisors in order to determine the progress of work and completion dates. Production clerks also compile reports on things like work progress, inventory levels, cost, and production issues.

Material controller vs production clerk salary

Material controllers and production clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Material Controller	Production Clerk
Average salary	$41,064	$32,281
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $68,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	Lancaster, CA	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	California	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Aviation Technology Group	Rich Products
Best paying industry	Energy	Manufacturing

Differences between material controller and production clerk education

There are a few differences between a material controller and a production clerk in terms of educational background:

	Material Controller	Production Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 47%	High School Diploma, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Material controller vs production clerk demographics

Here are the differences between material controllers' and production clerks' demographics:

	Material Controller	Production Clerk
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 71.8% Female, 28.2%	Male, 31.8% Female, 68.2%
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, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 7.0% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between material controller and production clerk duties and responsibilities

Material controller example 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.
Enter data into RF scanner to load and manipulate data and to produce reports.
Prepare and update weekly material report, material requirement planning (MRP) and end of life (EOL) report.

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Production clerk example responsibilities.

Flight line expediter ensures maintenance accomplishment and sortie production by managing, controlling and directing allocate resources and personnel.
Clean windows, glass partitions, and mirrors with water and other cleaners with sponges and squeegees.
Coordinate with multiple sewing facilities to expedite late customer orders.
Ship via fed ex and ups.
Observe and follow GMP guidelines ensuring product quality.
Perform cycle counting of WIP and complete inventories.

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Material controller vs production clerk skills

Common material controller skills

Computer System, 12%
Purchase Orders, 11%
Hazardous Materials, 10%
FAA, 6%
MSDS, 5%
Inventory Control, 4%

Common production clerk skills

Basic Math, 16%
Data Entry, 16%
Safety Procedures, 8%
Math, 8%
Production Reports, 4%
GMP, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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