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The differences between supply chain specialists and inventory 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 specialist and an inventory manager. Additionally, a supply chain specialist has an average salary of $71,414, which is higher than the $62,768 average annual salary of an inventory manager.
The top three skills for a supply chain specialist include supply chain, logistics and chain management. The most important skills for an inventory manager are PET, direct reports, and customer service.
| Supply Chain Specialist | Inventory Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $71,414 | $62,768 |
| Hourly rate | $34.33 | $30.18 |
| Growth rate | 28% | -6% |
| Number of jobs | 25,129 | 30,717 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
It is the responsibility of the supply chain specialist to procure materials to manufacture and ship products. The supply chain specialist determines and orders the proper quantities and negotiates pricing and their shipment terms. They oversee the delivery of necessary materials for the fulfillment of orders made by customers. The specialists need to develop strong skills in project management, business ethics, problem-solving, understanding of financial statements, communication skills, and cost accounting skills.
An inventory manager is responsible for supervising the overall inventory operations, monitoring supplies and materials, and checking the accuracy of data reports from the inventory associates. Inventory managers' duties include validating stock levels using record software tools, determining the availability of stocks for purchase orders, inspecting the incoming and outgoing shipments, and addressing product concerns by communicating with suppliers and third-party vendors. An inventory manager must have excellent communication and leadership skills to handle the staff's performance and manage customers' inquiries and complaints.
Supply chain specialists and inventory managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Chain Specialist | Inventory Manager | |
| Average salary | $71,414 | $62,768 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $102,000 | Between $43,000 And $91,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | NVIDIA |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Retail |
There are a few differences between a supply chain specialist and an inventory manager in terms of educational background:
| Supply Chain Specialist | Inventory Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 54% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supply chain specialists' and inventory managers' demographics:
| Supply Chain Specialist | Inventory Manager | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% | Male, 69.4% Female, 30.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 7.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.1% Asian, 8.5% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |