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The differences between category analysts and product analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a category analyst, becoming a product analyst takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a product analyst has an average salary of $79,316, which is higher than the $60,658 average annual salary of a category analyst.
The top three skills for a category analyst include powerpoint, IRI and data analysis. The most important skills for a product analyst are tableau, data analysis, and product management.
| Category Analyst | Product Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $60,658 | $79,316 |
| Hourly rate | $29.16 | $38.13 |
| Growth rate | 19% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 17,182 | 176,369 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 4 |
A category analyst is responsible for evaluating the category management systems to improve efficiency and maximize the productivity of distribution departments and achieve the highest customer satisfaction. Category analysts coordinate with suppliers and third-party vendors, negotiate pricing contracts, research on current market trends for product selection, and maintain the adequacy of stock inventories. They also develop cost-reduction techniques by conducting data analysis and studying the current operational policies. A category analyst works closely with the marketing and sales team to identify business opportunities, implementing promotional techniques, and increase brand awareness to the public market.
A product analyst job utilizes data analysis software and notates trends in market research. Primarily, analysts project the costs of product development and marketing. They think of the possibilities for profit and sales and monitor the performance of products on the market to come up with a better product. Their responsibilities include company product evaluation, product understanding, and product rating reviews. Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite, strong communication skills, and proficiency in database software is necessary for this job.
Category analysts and product analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Category Analyst | Product Analyst | |
| Average salary | $60,658 | $79,316 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $84,000 | Between $56,000 And $111,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Washington |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a category analyst and a product analyst in terms of educational background:
| Category Analyst | Product Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between category analysts' and product analysts' demographics:
| Category Analyst | Product Analyst | |
| Average age | 37 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.4% Female, 51.6% | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 5.2% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% Asian, 11.9% White, 65.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% | Black or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% Asian, 14.6% White, 64.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 12% |