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The differences between acquisition specialists and material analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an acquisition specialist and a material analyst. Additionally, a material analyst has an average salary of $66,092, which is higher than the $65,906 average annual salary of an acquisition specialist.
The top three skills for an acquisition specialist include program management, market research and DOD. The most important skills for a material analyst are supply chain, logistics, and MRP.
| Acquisition Specialist | Material Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $65,906 | $66,092 |
| Hourly rate | $31.69 | $31.77 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 17,543 | 48,758 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
A materials analyst is responsible for managing the assets and materials of an organization, ensuring the adequacy of office inventories to support business operational functions. Materials analysts identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and third-party vendors. They handle the distribution of goods and order processes according to the company's supply chain management. A materials analyst must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially in conducting data and statistical analysis to obtain high-quality materials that would meet the customers' demands.
Acquisition specialists and material analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Acquisition Specialist | Material Analyst | |
| Average salary | $65,906 | $66,092 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $99,000 | Between $49,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between an acquisition specialist and a material analyst in terms of educational background:
| Acquisition Specialist | Material Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 63% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between acquisition specialists' and material analysts' demographics:
| Acquisition Specialist | Material Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.9% Female, 48.1% | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 9.0% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |