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The differences between supply chain specialists and supply chain directors 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 a supply chain director. Additionally, a supply chain director has an average salary of $129,438, which is higher than the $71,414 average annual salary of a supply chain specialist.
The top three skills for a supply chain specialist include supply chain, logistics and chain management. The most important skills for a supply chain director are supply chain, logistics, and chain operations.
| Supply Chain Specialist | Supply Chain Director | |
| Yearly salary | $71,414 | $129,438 |
| Hourly rate | $34.33 | $62.23 |
| Growth rate | 28% | - |
| Number of jobs | 25,129 | 37,396 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| 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.
A supply chain director is primarily in charge of the overall supply chain operations in a company. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to improve processes, creating business plans and sales forecasts, delegating tasks, coordinating and selecting suppliers and vendors, creating new supply chain policies when necessary, and spearheading the inventory and delivery processes. There are also instances when a supply chain director must report to higher-ranking officials, produce progress reports, and craft presentations. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead the workforce while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Supply chain specialists and supply chain directors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Chain Specialist | Supply Chain Director | |
| Average salary | $71,414 | $129,438 |
| Salary range | Between $49,000 And $102,000 | Between $90,000 And $185,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Bruno, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | Chewy |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Hospitality |
There are a few differences between a supply chain specialist and a supply chain director in terms of educational background:
| Supply Chain Specialist | Supply Chain Director | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 72% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between supply chain specialists' and supply chain directors' demographics:
| Supply Chain Specialist | Supply Chain Director | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.6% Female, 41.4% | Male, 83.1% Female, 16.9% |
| 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, 7.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 8.8% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |