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The differences between buying analysts and supply chain analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a buying analyst and a supply chain analyst. Additionally, a buying analyst has an average salary of $77,425, which is higher than the $67,450 average annual salary of a supply chain analyst.
The top three skills for a buying analyst include purchase orders, delivery schedules and MRP. The most important skills for a supply chain analyst are supply chain, logistics, and customer service.
| Buying Analyst | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $77,425 | $67,450 |
| Hourly rate | $37.22 | $32.43 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 28% |
| Number of jobs | 22,966 | 37,979 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A buying analyst specializes in conducting extensive market research and analysis to develop conclusions and recommendations that will help companies in making purchase decisions. They focus on studying the suppliers and competing companies, gathering and analyzing consumer feedback, performing audits and risk assessments, and making forecast models. They may also assess and evaluate external parties, such as vendors and distributors. Through the findings of their research, a buying analyst may also help in establishing guidelines, protocols, and methods to optimize business operations and develop solutions against problem areas.
A supply chain analyst is responsible for handling the supply chain operations of an organization, aligning processes, and identifying areas of improvement to initiate procedures and create smooth supply delivery transactions. Supply chain analysts monitor the adequacy of stock inventory, including the trends in the market industry, to meet the public demands and ensuring that the business provides those interests. They also evaluate the supply cycle, from the planning stages to the final distribution, and analyzing aspects to minimize complexities and cost-reduction without compromising the quality of services.
Buying analysts and supply chain analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Buying Analyst | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Average salary | $77,425 | $67,450 |
| Salary range | Between $52,000 And $113,000 | Between $50,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Arlington, VA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Virginia |
| Best paying company | YellowHammer | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a buying analyst and a supply chain analyst in terms of educational background:
| Buying Analyst | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between buying analysts' and supply chain analysts' demographics:
| Buying Analyst | Supply Chain Analyst | |
| Average age | 48 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 52.2% Female, 47.8% | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.4% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 11.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 9% |