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The differences between supply specialists and inventory controllers 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 $36,911 average annual salary of an inventory controller.
The top three skills for a supply specialist include customer service, logistical support and safety regulations. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Controller | |
| Yearly salary | $39,791 | $36,911 |
| Hourly rate | $19.13 | $17.75 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 27,197 | 140,496 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| 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.
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 specialists and inventory controllers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Controller | |
| Average salary | $39,791 | $36,911 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $61,000 | Between $28,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | Everett, MA |
| Highest paying state | Hawaii | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | TALENT Software Services | General Dynamics Mission Systems |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Technology |
There are a few differences between a supply specialist and an inventory controller in terms of educational background:
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Controller | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 37% | Bachelor's Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between supply specialists' and inventory controllers' demographics:
| Supply Specialist | Inventory Controller | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 61.4% Female, 38.6% | Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6% |
| 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, 9.8% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |