Inventory Taker Job Description
Your complete inventory taker job overview
Inventory taker job highlights
- Inventory takers make around $9 per hour
- Most opportunities have flexible scheduling options
- You’ll get to work independently
What do inventory takers do?
As an inventory taker, you are responsible for, well, taking inventory. But let’s back up: to understand what inventory takers do, it helps to understand why they exist. Almost every major retailer uses a third-party inventory service to count every item in their store to verify their inventory record accuracy. Outsourcing the inventory service ensures precision, reliability, and objectivity in the reporting.
An inventory taker usually works with a team to scan each item in an assigned section using a hand-held electronic data collector. This information is then compiled for the retailer and compared against their records. When taking inventory, you’ll need to pay extremely close attention to your assigned section to be sure your records are as accurate as possible. A large portion of your time will be spent working unsupervised, so you’ll need to stay focused and get the job done without someone looking over your shoulder.
You might have never seen an inventory taker working, and there’s a good reason for that. They usually don’t work when the store is open. That means the hours will typically be late at night or very early in the morning, which makes this an excellent part-time job for almost anyone. Whether you’re a night-owl college student looking for work, or a working mom looking for something to fit into your children’s school schedule, this job offers flexible work schedules.
How much do inventory takers make?
The average hourly pay for an inventory taker is around $9.50 per hour. Like in most jobs, pay will vary by skill level and location.
What are the education requirements to be an inventory taker?
A high school diploma or GED is sufficient education for an inventory taker position. It’s an entry-level position and requires very little experience to get started. Most employers will offer short-term, on-site training so you can learn how to use their equipment and meet all the job requirements.
Career paths for inventory takers
Typically an inventory taker will work under a team supervisor or a manager. Each manager will report to an area manager. Several areas are combined into a district, which has a district manager. A successful inventory taker may be able to move into a management role in one of these areas.
The future of inventory takers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for inventory takers should grow at an average rate. Remember that this job depends on the demand of retailers requiring store inventory. The limited training requirements and flexible hours attract many people seeking second or part-time jobs.