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The differences between stockers and inventory associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an inventory associate has an average salary of $30,067, which is higher than the $29,936 average annual salary of a stocker.
The top three skills for a stocker include pallets, strong customer service and stock merchandise. The most important skills for an inventory associate are ladders, strong work ethic, and work ethic.
| Stocker | Inventory Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $29,936 | $30,067 |
| Hourly rate | $14.39 | $14.46 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 192,276 | 184,462 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 58% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Stockers are responsible for displaying items for sale in the store. They manage the shelves and ensure that items are on display at all times. Aside from that, stockers also assist in managing the inventory. Since they mostly work on the operations floor, they know which items are getting sold faster. As such, they should be able to prompt inventory managers should stocks run low. They are also in charge of putting up promotional materials and removing them once the promotions are over. Stockers should also be familiar with the items sold in the store since customers are likely to approach them for questions that they may have.
An inventory associate is responsible for monitoring inventory supplies, ensuring that the supplies are adequate for customers' orders and business' needs. Inventory associates manage order sheets and record inventory reports, check items for possible defects, prepare merchandise for shipment, inspect delivered inventory supplies and return damaged items, organize shelves, and operate basic warehouse equipment. An inventory associate must have strong analytical and data entry skills to input inventory records in the system efficiently and accurately.
Stockers and inventory associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Stocker | Inventory Associate | |
| Average salary | $29,936 | $30,067 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $36,000 | Between $24,000 And $37,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Costco Wholesale | Phillips 66 |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Technology |
There are a few differences between a stocker and an inventory associate in terms of educational background:
| Stocker | Inventory Associate | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 58% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between stockers' and inventory associates' demographics:
| Stocker | Inventory Associate | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 74.8% Female, 25.2% | Male, 59.5% Female, 40.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 57.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% | Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 7.1% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |