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The differences between buyers and material analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes More than 10 years to become a buyer, becoming a material analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a material analyst has an average salary of $66,092, which is higher than the $54,049 average annual salary of a buyer.
The top three skills for a buyer include purchase orders, customer service and logistics. The most important skills for a material analyst are supply chain, logistics, and MRP.
| Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $54,049 | $66,092 |
| Hourly rate | $25.99 | $31.77 |
| Growth rate | - | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 23,589 | 48,758 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 6 |
A buyer's duties include product sourcing and comparing resources for the best product range that would suit the specific needs of the business. Buyers must have excellent communication and negotiation skills to evaluate items that most likely benefit the customer and improve the sales of daily operations with cost-efficient products. They also conduct extensive research for market and price trends while considering the highest quality standards. Buyers should also possess strong analytical skills to create purchase orders and statistical analysis.
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.
Buyers and material analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Average salary | $54,049 | $66,092 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $76,000 | Between $49,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Englewood, NJ | Union City, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | California |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Micron Technology |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a buyer and a material analyst in terms of educational background:
| Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | California State University - Bakersfield | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between buyers' and material analysts' demographics:
| Buyer | Material Analyst | |
| Average age | 47 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 43.9% Female, 56.1% | Male, 53.4% Female, 46.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% Asian, 6.7% White, 75.4% 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 | 15% | 7% |