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The differences between material leads and material managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a material lead, becoming a material manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a material manager has an average salary of $96,125, which is higher than the $86,429 average annual salary of a material lead.
The top three skills for a material lead include continuous improvement, logistics and materials management. The most important skills for a material manager are supply chain, logistics, and customer service.
| Material Lead | Material Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $86,429 | $96,125 |
| Hourly rate | $41.55 | $46.21 |
| Growth rate | -3% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 22,580 | 43,759 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
As a material lead, they must know record-keeping practices, automated system operations, safety/supervisory practices and principles, adopt skills in operating materials handling, automotive and office equipment, and in lifting heavy packages and objects. They are entitled to coordinate the activities of subordinates, design stockroom layout and oversee rearranging processes, examine incoming shipments for shortage or damage and correspond with the shipper to rectify and fill out appropriate documents and forms. They also need to review the complex work procedure to resolve question presentations by workers.
A material manager is responsible for monitoring inventories and stock supplies, ensuring the adequacy of materials needed for manufacturing or other operations, depending on the organization's industry. Material managers meet with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiating contracts that would fit the budget goals of the company without compromising quality. They manage the distribution of resources throughout the organizations' department and provide purchase reports for the management. A material manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to address the needs of an organization for smooth operations.
Material leads and material managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Material Lead | Material Manager | |
| Average salary | $86,429 | $96,125 |
| Salary range | Between $56,000 And $132,000 | Between $72,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | South San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | California |
| Best paying company | Biogen | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a material lead and a material manager in terms of educational background:
| Material Lead | Material Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Western Carolina University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between material leads' and material managers' demographics:
| Material Lead | Material Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1% | Male, 77.7% Female, 22.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |