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Supply technician vs inventory controller

The differences between supply technicians 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 $36,280 average annual salary of a supply technician.

The top three skills for a supply technician include customer service, patients and inventory management. The most important skills for an inventory controller are inventory control, customer service, and data entry.

Supply technician vs inventory controller overview

Supply TechnicianInventory Controller
Yearly salary$36,280$36,911
Hourly rate$17.44$17.75
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs34,106140,496
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

What does a supply technician do?

In a warehouse setting, a supply technician is responsible for handling all the incoming and outgoing products, ensuring accuracy in inventory and logistics. Most of the time, they are in charge of maintaining and keeping records, loading and unloading shipments and deliveries, verifying invoices, and processing documents. A supply technician often works under the supervision of a manager or supervisor, and it is essential to report any complicated issues that need to be resolved. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

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 technician vs inventory controller salary

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

Supply TechnicianInventory Controller
Average salary$36,280$36,911
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $51,000Between $28,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CAEverett, MA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMassachusetts
Best paying companyApplied MaterialsGeneral Dynamics Mission Systems
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between supply technician and inventory controller education

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

Supply TechnicianInventory Controller
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 34%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Supply technician vs inventory controller demographics

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

Supply TechnicianInventory Controller
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 61.3% Female, 38.7%Male, 59.4% Female, 40.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.5% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 7.2% White, 55.3% 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 technician and inventory controller duties and responsibilities

Supply technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the accountability of all battalion CTA, TDA, and MTOE equipment.
  • Manage appropriate disposal of expire pharmaceutical products in accordance with HAZMAT regulations.
  • Cataloge property, maintain property records and manage inventory using PBUSE system.
  • Perform and record daily testing of sterility of all autoclaves and Sterrad in the hospital.
  • Assist with the hazardous material (HAZMAT) team with classification, segregation and documentation of hazardous materials.
  • Operate automatic washer/decontamination unit, all autoclaves and the Sterrad sterilizer.
  • 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 technician vs inventory controller skills

Common supply technician skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Inventory Management, 6%
  • Storage Management, 5%
  • DOD, 4%
  • Data Entry, 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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