Unit supervisor vs inventory supervisor

The differences between unit supervisors and inventory supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a unit supervisor and an inventory supervisor. Additionally, an inventory supervisor has an average salary of $48,890, which is higher than the $48,749 average annual salary of a unit supervisor.

The top three skills for a unit supervisor include patients, corrective action and social work. The most important skills for an inventory supervisor are customer service, business relationships, and work ethic.

Unit supervisor vs inventory supervisor overview

	Unit Supervisor	Inventory Supervisor
Yearly salary	$48,749	$48,890
Hourly rate	$23.44	$23.50
Growth rate	6%	-3%
Number of jobs	37,120	37,501
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age	47	47
Years of experience	6	6

What does a unit supervisor do?

A unit supervisor oversees and supervises employees, ensuring that work operations adhere to standards, guidelines, timelines, and budget. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their industry or company of employment, they are typically in charge of conducting regular inspections and assessments, setting objectives and guidelines, delegating responsibilities among staff, and producing progress reports, submitting them to higher-ranking managers. Moreover, aside from leading teams to reach goals, a unit supervisor also trains new members of the workforce, provides technical support to staff, and resolves issues and concerns to maintain smooth operations.

What does an inventory supervisor do?

An inventory supervisor is responsible for monitoring the productivity of staff and managing the adequacy of inventories in a warehouse or distribution center settings. Inventory supervisors inspect the stability and efficiency of the equipment and machinery for the manufacturing processes to ensure its working condition that would prevent operational delays and avoid potential hazards. They also strategize in the supply chain management, oversee shipment details, and negotiate with material suppliers and third-party vendors for cost-reduction opportunities.

Unit supervisor vs inventory supervisor salary

Unit supervisors and inventory supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Unit Supervisor	Inventory Supervisor
Average salary	$48,749	$48,890
Salary range	Between $30,000 And $78,000	Between $34,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	Olympia, WA	Sacramento, CA
Highest paying state	Washington	New York
Best paying company	Berkshire Hathaway	Schneider Electric Industrial Services
Best paying industry	Hospitality	Retail

Differences between unit supervisor and inventory supervisor education

There are a few differences between a unit supervisor and an inventory supervisor in terms of educational background:

	Unit Supervisor	Inventory Supervisor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 55%	Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	California State University - Bakersfield	California State University - Bakersfield

Unit supervisor vs inventory supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between unit supervisors' and inventory supervisors' demographics:

	Unit Supervisor	Inventory Supervisor
Average age	47	47
Gender ratio	Male, 51.6% Female, 48.4%	Male, 70.2% Female, 29.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 5.7% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 10.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	8%	8%

Differences between unit supervisor and inventory supervisor duties and responsibilities

Unit supervisor example responsibilities.

Manage direct support professionals serving adult populations for persons with mental health, developmental disabilities and children with autism.
Document patient information and recording information correctly, as well as ensuring other workers are following OSHA and HIPAA requirements.
Attend weekly QA collaboration meetings and actively participate in discussions.
Utilize Kaizen activities to drive continuous process and quality improvements.
Submit MDS assessments to CMS timely and organize documentation for timely filing.
Evaluate admissions for Medicare/ Medicaid eligibility; prepare MDS and PPS documentation.

Inventory supervisor example responsibilities.

Focuse on achieving continuous improvement through successful adoption of world-class global logistics methodologies and solutions.
Enter POs and assist with picking when necessary.
Provide customers with accurate inventory information using RF units and physical, manual counts.
Play key role in the implementation of radio frequency (RF) scanners to record production.
Assist with start-up of the buffer warehouse, creating bin locations, assigning materials, and WMS troubleshooting/training.
Entrust in teaching the art of sales, POS training, building the optimal showroom and company culture.

Unit supervisor vs inventory supervisor skills

Common unit supervisor skills

Patients, 11%
Corrective Action, 10%
Social Work, 8%
Oversight, 7%
Conflict Resolution, 6%
Direct Supervision, 6%

Common inventory supervisor skills

Customer Service, 46%
Business Relationships, 17%
Work Ethic, 16%
WIS, 5%
Inventory Control, 1%
Store Management, 1%

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Unit Supervisor vs Inventory Supervisor

Updated January 8, 2025

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