Material lead vs production clerk

The differences between material leads 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 lead and a production clerk. Additionally, a material lead has an average salary of $86,429, which is higher than the $32,281 average annual salary of a production clerk.

The top three skills for a material lead include continuous improvement, logistics and materials management. The most important skills for a production clerk are basic math, data entry, and safety procedures.

Material lead vs production clerk overview

	Material Lead	Production Clerk
Yearly salary	$86,429	$32,281
Hourly rate	$41.55	$15.52
Growth rate	-3%	-3%
Number of jobs	22,580	241,271
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	High School Diploma, 31%
Average age	45	45
Years of experience	2	2

What does a material lead do?

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.

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 lead vs production clerk salary

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

	Material Lead	Production Clerk
Average salary	$86,429	$32,281
Salary range	Between $56,000 And $132,000	Between $25,000 And $40,000
Highest paying City	South San Francisco, CA	Minneapolis, MN
Highest paying state	New Hampshire	Massachusetts
Best paying company	Biogen	Rich Products
Best paying industry	Technology	Manufacturing

Differences between material lead and production clerk education

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

	Material Lead	Production Clerk
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 49%	High School Diploma, 31%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	Western Carolina University	Western Carolina University

Material lead vs production clerk demographics

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

	Material Lead	Production Clerk
Average age	45	45
Gender ratio	Male, 73.9% Female, 26.1%	Male, 31.8% Female, 68.2%
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, 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 lead and production clerk duties and responsibilities

Material lead example responsibilities.

Manage materials MRP software systems set-up, sourcing, planning and layout for new product introduction of GACB.
Lead project to establish a Kanban system for hardware to a key station to reduce cycle time and increase efficiency.
Manage re-establishment of material management ERP system.
Manage all incoming domestic and overseas products including MRO and consignment materials.
Manage all raw materials and conduct inventory audits, maintain compliance guidelines, and supervise MRO purchasing to balance material shortage/surplus.
Utilize multiple databases and MRP systems to identify and resolve inventory issues daily

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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 lead vs production clerk skills

Common material lead skills

Continuous Improvement, 9%
Logistics, 9%
Materials Management, 6%
Lean Manufacturing, 4%
Purchase Orders, 4%
Sigma, 4%

Common production clerk skills

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

Material Lead vs. similar jobs

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Updated January 8, 2025

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