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Supply specialist vs warehouse associate

The differences between supply specialists and warehouse associates 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 $32,863 average annual salary of a warehouse associate.

The top three skills for a supply specialist include customer service, logistical support and safety regulations. The most important skills for a warehouse associate are pallets, work ethic, and customer service.

Supply specialist vs warehouse associate overview

Supply SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Yearly salary$39,791$32,863
Hourly rate$19.13$15.80
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs27,197215,910
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 50%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a supply specialist do?

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.

What does a warehouse associate do?

Warehouse associates are employees who take on any task needed at the company warehouse. They receive incoming deliveries, store the items in their proper places, scan the items to log them into the company system, manage stocks and inventory, conduct product inspection to check for damages or defects, and maintain the overall cleanliness of the warehouse. Warehouse associates are also responsible for receiving purchase orders, assembling and packing products related to orders, checking the accuracy of the products relative to the order, and ensuring proper shipment of the products.

Supply specialist vs warehouse associate salary

Supply specialists and warehouse associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Supply SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Average salary$39,791$32,863
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $61,000Between $26,000 And $40,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CAPortland, OR
Highest paying stateHawaiiNorth Dakota
Best paying companyTALENT Software ServicesUline
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

Differences between supply specialist and warehouse associate education

There are a few differences between a supply specialist and a warehouse associate in terms of educational background:

Supply SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%High School Diploma, 50%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Supply specialist vs warehouse associate demographics

Here are the differences between supply specialists' and warehouse associates' demographics:

Supply SpecialistWarehouse Associate
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 61.4% Female, 38.6%Male, 73.7% Female, 26.3%
Race ratioBlack 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, 10.0% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between supply specialist and warehouse associate duties and responsibilities

Supply specialist example responsibilities.

  • Dispatch vehicles, maintains dispatch records, trip tickets and records in logbooks, manage the GSA vehicle fleet of vehicles.
  • Complete BCT and AIT, laid pipelines for F.S.S.P.
  • Remove hazardous spills/wastes; ensure compliance with EPA and OSHA regulations.
  • Establish and maintain a file system for the section in accordance with DOD standards.
  • Collect and prepare payroll and minimum manning information for EDI data-entry inputs and reporting to DoD.
  • Assemble and develop training and lesson plans for the unit to gain knowledge of the importance of CSDP.
  • Show more

Warehouse associate example responsibilities.

  • Rotate stock by code and receiving date - FIFO.
  • Create and ship documents for customs using DHL software.
  • Utilize RF gun for scanning duties include closing out invoices and assigning load plans.
  • Perform all tasks according to OSHA regulations and also attend daily safety tool box meetings.
  • Utilize a hand-held RF unit to select products/quantities for retail orders in a high volume warehouse.
  • Require consistent heavy lifting, math skills (primarily measurements), and fierce attention to detail.
  • Show more

Supply specialist vs warehouse associate skills

Common supply specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • Logistical Support, 9%
  • Safety Regulations, 9%
  • Financial Management Procedures, 6%
  • Inventory Control, 6%
  • Inventory Management, 5%
Common warehouse associate skills
  • Pallets, 15%
  • Work Ethic, 12%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Basic Math, 7%
  • Warehouse Environment, 5%
  • Math, 4%

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