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Supply clerk vs inventory controller

The differences between supply clerks and inventory controllers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an inventory controller has an average salary of $36,911, which is higher than the $32,185 average annual salary of a supply clerk.

The top three skills for a supply clerk include customer service, purchase orders and inventory control. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.

Supply clerk vs inventory controller overview

Supply ClerkInventory Controller
Yearly salary$32,185$36,911
Hourly rate$15.47$17.75
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs83,110140,496
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a supply clerk do?

A supply clerk works in a warehouse environment helping businesses maintain operations. Supply clerks' duties may vary from job to job. They track receipts, fill orders, manage inventories, report to their supervisors, and update records. They oversee the incoming and outgoing equipment, property, and supply. Also, they execute short-term jobs as they plan to maintain enough funding. They should have skills in attention to detail, leadership, and communication.

What does an inventory controller do?

An inventory controller is responsible for performing duties for the inventory department of an organization. Inventory controllers ensure the adequacy of the product and materials needed for daily operations. They maintain inventory reports, manage stock supplies, negotiate with third-party vendors for orders of quality products, monitor deliveries, verifying orders for shipment, handling the employee and customers' requests for supplies, and receiving orders efficiently. Inventory controllers keep receipts of all inventory transactions, as well as inspecting the quality of the inventory items, requiring them to have excellent analytical and critical-thinking skills.

Supply clerk vs inventory controller salary

Supply clerks and inventory controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Supply ClerkInventory Controller
Average salary$32,185$36,911
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $42,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityPleasanton, CAEverett, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyColumbia University in the City of New YorkGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems
Best paying industryManufacturingTechnology

Differences between supply clerk and inventory controller education

There are a few differences between a supply clerk and an inventory controller in terms of educational background:

Supply ClerkInventory Controller
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Supply clerk vs inventory controller demographics

Here are the differences between supply clerks' and inventory controllers' demographics:

Supply ClerkInventory Controller
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 55.5% Female, 44.5%Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 55.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between supply clerk and inventory controller duties and responsibilities

Supply clerk example responsibilities.

  • Dispatch vehicles, maintains dispatch records, trip tickets and records in logbooks, manage the GSA vehicle fleet of vehicles.
  • Provide technical guidance and counseling to junior supply technicians while establishing and maintaining logistics systems records.
  • Perform warrant search on NCIC system and verifying warrant information.
  • Enforce proper warehouse procedures to promote accuracy within the SSA's storage section.
  • Conduct a reconciliation of requisition records with the supporting SSA on a monthly basis.
  • Secure and control supplies; used computer applications in work assignment such as Microsoft powerpoint, word and excel.
  • Show more

Inventory controller example responsibilities.

  • Manage, review, analyze, verify, and ship raw, stock, purchase, QA, and manufacture materials.
  • Operate and set up CNC machines.
  • Move and organize stock using RF scanner.
  • Fill out BOL / SLI paperwork for various shipping and freight companies.
  • Receive in all material for warehouse, CNC shop, and front office.
  • Help implement the WMS system in the warehouse, perform cycle counts and do yearly physical inventories.
  • Show more

Supply clerk vs inventory controller skills

Common supply clerk skills
  • Customer Service, 22%
  • Purchase Orders, 21%
  • Inventory Control, 6%
  • Physical Counts, 5%
  • Logistical Support, 5%
  • Property Accountability, 3%
Common inventory controller skills
  • Inventory Control, 23%
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Data Entry, 6%
  • Math, 5%
  • Basic Math, 5%
  • Purchase Orders, 4%

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