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The differences between supply chain leads and material managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a supply chain lead and a material manager. Additionally, a supply chain lead has an average salary of $101,348, which is higher than the $96,125 average annual salary of a material manager.
The top three skills for a supply chain lead include supply chain, project management and kpis. The most important skills for a material manager are supply chain, logistics, and customer service.
| Supply Chain Lead | Material Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $101,348 | $96,125 |
| Hourly rate | $48.73 | $46.21 |
| Growth rate | - | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 34,069 | 43,759 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply chain lead specializes in overseeing the supply chain in a company, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. They are primarily responsible for managing schedules, monitoring supplies and logistics, addressing and resolving issues and concerns, and building positive relationships with vendors and suppliers. Supply chain leaders must also maintain quality control and inventory, coordinate workers, and produce progress reports for supervisors and high-ranking personnel. Furthermore, it is essential to lead and encourage staff, all while implementing the policies and standards of the company.
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.
Supply chain leads and material managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Chain Lead | Material Manager | |
| Average salary | $101,348 | $96,125 |
| Salary range | Between $75,000 And $136,000 | Between $72,000 And $126,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Menlo Park, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | The Citadel | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Technology |
There are a few differences between a supply chain lead and a material manager in terms of educational background:
| Supply Chain Lead | Material Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 69% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supply chain leads' and material managers' demographics:
| Supply Chain Lead | Material Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 71.5% Female, 28.5% | Male, 77.7% Female, 22.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 66.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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 | 10% | 11% |