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Supply technician vs materials technician

The differences between supply technicians and materials technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a supply technician has an average salary of $36,280, which is higher than the $35,721 average annual salary of a materials technician.

The top three skills for a supply technician include customer service, patients and inventory management. The most important skills for a materials technician are patients, customer service, and patient care.

Supply technician vs materials technician overview

Supply TechnicianMaterials Technician
Yearly salary$36,280$35,721
Hourly rate$17.44$17.17
Growth rate1%1%
Number of jobs34,10633,176
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
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 a materials technician do?

A materials technician is responsible for inspecting and testing tools and materials required for production operations and manufacturing processes, ensuring its stability and efficiency to support business functions and produce high-quality outputs. Materials technicians review the production process and recommend cost-reduction resources by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. They also identify the safety and reliability of materials to prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards within the work area. A materials technician must be able to operate manufacturing equipment to develop improved techniques and write report findings.

Supply technician vs materials technician salary

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

Supply TechnicianMaterials Technician
Average salary$36,280$35,721
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $51,000Between $27,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityLos Angeles, CARahway, NJ
Highest paying stateCaliforniaHawaii
Best paying companyApplied MaterialsOak Ridge National Laboratory
Best paying industryTechnologyTechnology

Differences between supply technician and materials technician education

There are a few differences between a supply technician and a materials technician in terms of educational background:

Supply TechnicianMaterials Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 34%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Supply technician vs materials technician demographics

Here are the differences between supply technicians' and materials technicians' demographics:

Supply TechnicianMaterials Technician
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 61.3% Female, 38.7%Male, 72.6% Female, 27.4%
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, 10.2% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 6.4% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between supply technician and materials technician 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

Materials technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage ISO documentation for corporate purchasing.
  • Perform construction surveying and Geotechnical investigations as required.
  • Direct inbound and outbound logistics operations, such as transportation and warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management.
  • Lumber, shingles, cement blocks, and etc.
  • Ensure sales for everyday needs of lumber, shingles, and many more supplies to customers and contractors.

Supply technician vs materials technician skills

Common supply technician skills
  • Customer Service, 13%
  • Patients, 12%
  • Inventory Management, 6%
  • Storage Management, 5%
  • DOD, 4%
  • Data Entry, 3%
Common materials technician skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Data Entry, 8%
  • Asphalt, 5%
  • Management System, 4%

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