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What is a materials supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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The Materials Supervisor is in charge of planning, organizing, and monitoring the transport of materials to ensures material needs are met throughout the company. He/She oversees warehousing, shipping, receiving, and handling of raw materials, components, and finished goods to meet customer demands. He/She manages, trains, and mentors team members to ensure the safe movement of material.

Also, he/she supervises the unloading or loading of all materials into or out of the facility. Additionally, he/she identifies and eliminates safety and warehousing hazards to reduce workplace accidents.

Employers require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in an area of specialty with at least three years of experience in a related role. The skillset for this position includes problem-solving, multitasking, leadership, communication, organization, and critical thinking skills. Materials supervisors earn an average annual salary of $66,727. It ranges from $47,000 to $94,000.

ScoreMaterials SupervisorUS Average
Salary
5.3

Avg. Salary $67,592

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.1

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.70%

Asian 4.79%

Black or African American 12.32%

Hispanic or Latino 17.69%

Unknown 4.11%

White 60.38%

Gender

female 20.37%

male 79.63%

Age - 47
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47
Stress level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.1

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.3

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Materials supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a materials supervisor

  1. Explore materials supervisor education requirements

    Most common materials supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.1 %

    Associate

    19.6 %

    High School Diploma

    9.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific materials supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Continuous Improvement6.34%
    Safety Procedures6.13%
    Logistics6.06%
    Inventory Control5.56%
    Shipping Receiving4.65%
  3. Complete relevant materials supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New materials supervisors 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 materials supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real materials supervisor resumes.
  4. Gain additional materials supervisor certifications

    Materials supervisor certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific materials supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for materials supervisors include Six Sigma Green Belt and OSHA Safety Certificate .

    More About Certifications
  5. Research materials supervisor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage the inventory of electrical parts and component using KANBAN.
    • Manage a free BOM scrubber design to review manufacturer's current part lists.
    • Develop, implement, and manage logistics of outsource manufacturing operations to sister companies in Canada and Italy.
    • Establish procedures that manage critical factors such as moisture sensitivity, electrostatic discharge, storeroom temperature and FIFO inventory staging system.
  6. Prepare your materials supervisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your materials supervisor 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 materials supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable materials supervisor resume templates

    Build a professional materials supervisor 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 materials supervisor resume.
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
    Materials Supervisor Resume
  7. Apply for materials supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a materials supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first materials supervisor job

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Average materials supervisor salary

The average materials supervisor salary in the United States is $67,592 per year or $33 per hour. Materials supervisor salaries range between $51,000 and $89,000 per year.

Average materials supervisor salary
$67,592 Yearly
$32.50 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do materials supervisors rate their job?

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Materials supervisor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Being part of the core team, making desicions and having a positive impact on my team daily , Expressing my abilities to grow as a leader face new challenges day to day. Put all my expierences and acknowlegment into action creating a postive enviroment to work.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2021
Pros

Freedom from supervision. Always busy, not stuck behind a desk. The variaty each days work.

Cons

Physical toll.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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