Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
What is a material manager and how to become one
A material manager oversees the procurement, storage, and distribution of materials. They secure materials at the right time, in the right quantities, and at the right cost. Material managers collaborate with production, sales, and logistics to forecast demand and plan inventory. They also negotiate with suppliers for favorable pricing and delivery terms. Additionally, they monitor inventory and manage the disposal of unnecessary materials. They work to procure materials while minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency.
What general advice would you give to a material manager?
Priya Nagaraj
Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website
Avg. Salary $96,125
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate -6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.30%
Asian 7.43%
Black or African American 9.04%
Hispanic or Latino 12.25%
Unknown 3.82%
White 67.16%
Genderfemale 22.29%
male 77.71%
Age - 47American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 47Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a material manager?
Pros
Competitive salary and benefits packages
Opportunity for advancement and career growth
Ability to work with diverse teams and stakeholders
Opportunity to work with advanced technologies and systems
Chance to work in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same
Cons
Long hours and significant responsibilities
Significant administrative tasks associated with the role, such as data entry or recordkeeping
Frequent travel may be required, depending on the organization's needs
Difficulty finding a work-life balance due to the demands of the job
Potential for burnout due to the high level of responsibility and expectations placed on material managers
Material manager career paths
Key steps to become a material manager
Explore material manager education requirements
Start to develop specific material manager skills
Skills Percentages Supply Chain 11.55% Logistics 6.59% Customer Service 5.64% Inventory Control 5.36% Materials Management 5.25% Complete relevant material manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New material managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a material manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real material manager resumes.Research material manager duties and responsibilities
- Implement vendor manage inventory (VMI) programs with three key suppliers.
- Improve cash flow and increase OTD through the introduction of vendor consignment and vendor manage inventory programs.
- Identify optimal purchasing periods for conducting RFQ's in order to take advantage of peak supply periods.
- Expedite and project manage materials, heavy contact with vendors and clients to coordinate shipments of materials.
Prepare your material manager resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your material manager resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a material manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable material manager resume templates
Build a professional material manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your material manager resume.
Apply for material manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a material manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first material manager job
Are you a material manager?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average material manager salary
The average material manager salary in the United States is $96,125 per year or $46 per hour. Material manager salaries range between $72,000 and $126,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do material managers rate their job?
Material manager reviews
Have a direct impact of the company bottom targets.
Works not recognized by upper management!
its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.
work will be sometimes hectic.
I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.
I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.
Updated January 8, 2025
