Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between acquisition analysts and acquisition specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an acquisition analyst, becoming an acquisition specialist takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, an acquisition analyst has an average salary of $66,957, which is higher than the $65,906 average annual salary of an acquisition specialist.
The top three skills for an acquisition analyst include DOD, program management and powerpoint. The most important skills for an acquisition specialist are program management, market research, and DOD.
| Acquisition Analyst | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $66,957 | $65,906 |
| Hourly rate | $32.19 | $31.69 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 64,684 | 17,543 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
An acquisition analyst specializes in performing research and analysis to determine the feasibility and advantages of a company acquisition or merger. Their responsibilities revolve around coordinating with different departments to gather necessary data, assess risks and potential legal roadblocks, and analyze the impact of a business merger on the quality of services and client satisfaction. Moreover, an acquisition analyst may perform clerical tasks such as processing documentation, producing progress reports, managing schedules, distributing information materials, and maintaining extensive records.
An acquisition specialist is in charge of developing strategies to acquire goods and services on behalf of a company. Their responsibilities include coordinating with different departments to gather data, conducting extensive research and analysis to find cost-efficient materials and resources, liaising with external parties such as vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, and arranging payment plans. Furthermore, an acquisition specialist may also participate in a company's employment procedures and recruit potential employees in adherence to the company's vision and mission.
Acquisition analysts and acquisition specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Analyst | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average salary | $66,957 | $65,906 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $93,000 | Between $43,000 And $99,000 |
| Highest paying City | Hartford, CT | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | AIG | Amazon |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Finance |
There are a few differences between an acquisition analyst and an acquisition specialist in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Analyst | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition analysts' and acquisition specialists' demographics:
| Acquisition Analyst | Acquisition Specialist | |
| Average age | 40 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 64.1% Female, 35.9% | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.7% Asian, 14.1% White, 68.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 65.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |