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The differences between supply specialists and inventory clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a supply specialist has an average salary of $39,791, which is higher than the $32,666 average annual salary of an inventory clerk.
The top three skills for a supply specialist include customer service, logistical support and safety regulations. The most important skills for an inventory clerk are customer service, data entry, and inventory control.
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $39,791 | $32,666 |
| Hourly rate | $19.13 | $15.70 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 27,197 | 204,051 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A supply specialist is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of equipment and supplies, including quality maintenance and securing storage of merchandise. Supply specialists manage order requests, verify shipment details, and perform data entry tasks such as updating the database for incoming and outgoing supplies. They should be highly analytical, inspecting the items for any defects and malfunctions, and immediately processing replacement and new stock issuance. A supply specialist should follow the safety protocols at all times to avoid operational hazards and any possible delays.
Inventory clerks or inventory control clerks manage and maintain all inventory coming in and out. They ensure that the items are stored and stocked in their proper places. They have to train less experienced clerks as well as prepare balance and shortage reports. They also need to report any stock issues, place orders when necessary, prepare a list of lacking products, and take note of unusable items. A good inventory clerk must be detail-oriented, organized, and have relevant experience in inventory control.
Supply specialists and inventory clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Clerk | |
| Average salary | $39,791 | $32,666 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $61,000 | Between $26,000 And $39,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Portland, OR |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Oregon |
| Best paying company | TALENT Software Services | BD |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a supply specialist and an inventory clerk in terms of educational background:
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between supply specialists' and inventory clerks' demographics:
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Clerk | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 7.2% White, 56.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 9.9% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 7.0% White, 53.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |