Inventory Specialist Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Inventory specialists in Tucson keep counts honest for hospitals, factories and the VA, not just big warehouses. Tucson Medical Center, Alicat Scientific and Rain Bird all run cycle counts and stock audits here, and experienced specialists earn roughly $19 to $23 an hour. Current openings are below.
Current Inventory Specialist Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Inventory Specialist Work in Tucson
Many of the steadiest Tucson postings for inventory work come from hospitals and manufacturers. At Tucson Medical Center on Grant Road in midtown, distribution technicians on the inventory management team set par levels, run cycle counts and audit consignment stock for the operating rooms. Across town at Carondelet St. Joseph's Hospital on Wilmot Road, the supply chain staff track surgical implants and supplies and reconcile counts with vendors. The Tucson VA Medical Center on South Sixth Avenue hires supply technicians to receive goods, scan barcodes and restock units.
On the manufacturing side, Alicat Scientific on the northwest side posts inventory and logistics specialists who keep ERP transactions clean, resolve discrepancies and pick and stage materials for production work orders, and Rain Bird's Tucson plant hires warehouse leads who own receiving, production replenishment and cycle counts. The federal wage survey counted about 1,710 shipping, receiving and inventory clerks in the Tucson metro in May 2024, with a mean wage of $20.65 an hour.
Top Tucson Employers for Inventory Specialists
These Tucson employers hire for inventory control and stock accuracy work:
- Tucson Medical Center - the midtown hospital hires distribution technicians for inventory management: par levels, cycle counts and consignment audits.
- Alicat Scientific - a Tucson precision instrument maker, part of Halma, that hires inventory and logistics specialists for ERP transactions, audits and production picks.
- Carondelet Health Network - the supply chain team at St. Joseph's Hospital tracks implants and supplies and has posted inventory control technician roles.
- Rain Bird - the irrigation manufacturer's Tucson plant hires warehouse staff and leads for receiving, replenishment and cycle counts.
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - the Tucson VA Medical Center hires supply technicians for receiving, barcode inventory and restocking.
Inventory Specialist Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: roughly $17 to $19 an hour.
- Experienced: roughly $19 to $23 an hour.
- Lead or senior specialist: roughly $23 to $27 an hour.
These are estimates that vary by employer and experience. Alicat Scientific posted $19 an hour for its inventory and logistics specialist, and the Tucson VA posted its GS-5 supply technician at $41,508 to $53,961 a year. ERP skills, forklift ability and lead duties push pay toward the top of the range. The minimum wage is $15.45 an hour inside Tucson city limits and $15.15 elsewhere in Pima County in 2026, but experienced inventory roles pay well above either floor.
How to Become an Inventory Specialist in Tucson
Most Tucson employers hire inventory specialists with a high school diploma or GED plus warehouse, stockroom or production experience, then train on their own inventory system. Pima Community College offers a Logistics and Supply Chain Management Basic Certificate that covers inventory control and warehouse operations in 16 weeks full time, in person or online with evening classes, and its credits apply to the Logistics and Supply Chain Management AAS. Arizona has no license for inventory specialists. If the job includes a forklift, federal OSHA rules make the employer responsible for training and certifying you.
What the Job Involves
Inventory specialists run cycle counts, reconcile physical stock against the system, investigate discrepancies and adjust records. They label and locate stock, pick and stage material for production or clinical units, and report shortages to purchasing before they stop a line or delay a surgery. The day splits between a terminal and the stockroom floor.
Skills Employers Look For
- Accuracy with counts, part numbers and lot or serial tracking
- ERP or MRP experience and solid Excel skills
- Root-cause thinking for inventory discrepancies
- Clear communication with purchasing, production and nursing units
- Comfort with barcode scanners and labeling systems
- Forklift or pallet jack ability for warehouse settings
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson inventory specialists start as material handlers or shipping and receiving clerks. From the specialist role the ladder runs to warehouse lead, the kind of group leader position Rain Bird posts in Tucson, then to supply chain coordinator or buyer. Hospital inventory staff can move into supply chain coordination for surgical services, and the Pima AAS supports the jump to planning and purchasing.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest alternatives for inventory specialists:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be an inventory specialist in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not license inventory specialists. A forklift is the only equipment with formal training rules, and under federal OSHA standards the employer trains and certifies operators and re-evaluates them at least every three years.
How much do inventory specialists make in Tucson?
Most experienced inventory specialists in Tucson earn roughly $19 to $23 an hour, with entry roles around $17 to $19 and leads up to about $27. The federal wage survey put the Tucson mean for shipping, receiving and inventory clerks at $20.65 an hour in May 2024.
Which Tucson employers hire inventory specialists?
Tucson Medical Center, Carondelet's St. Joseph's Hospital and the Tucson VA Medical Center hire inventory and supply staff on the health care side. Alicat Scientific and Rain Bird hire on the manufacturing side.
How long does Pima Community College's logistics certificate take?
The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Basic Certificate takes 16 weeks full time and can be done in person or online, including through evening classes. Its credits apply toward Pima's two-year Logistics and Supply Chain Management AAS.
What is the difference between an inventory specialist and a material handler?
A material handler physically moves stock between the dock, storage and production. An inventory specialist owns the accuracy of the records: counts, reconciliations, audits and discrepancy reports. Smaller Tucson employers often blend the two, and handling is a common first step into inventory work.
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