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The differences between commercial analysts and research analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a commercial analyst, becoming a research analyst takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a commercial analyst has an average salary of $83,036, which is higher than the $70,232 average annual salary of a research analyst.
The top three skills for a commercial analyst include portfolio, data analysis and financial statements. The most important skills for a research analyst are data analysis, data collection, and research projects.
| Commercial Analyst | Research Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $83,036 | $70,232 |
| Hourly rate | $39.92 | $33.77 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 19% |
| Number of jobs | 54,953 | 81,374 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 6 |
A commercial analyst is responsible for evaluating the performance of business operations in the market, including consumer demands and sales analysis. Commercial analysts monitor the market trends, identifying business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources for the business, as well as developing strategic approaches to attract potential clients and maintain long-lasting business relationships. They also manage the company's financial stability, reviewing competitors' activities, and recommending methods to maximize production operations and achieve the highest customer satisfaction.
A research analyst is responsible for providing a company with insights and advice concerning finance, investments, and expenditures. Utilizing their analytical skills and extensive expertise in marketing, they analyze the trends and significant factors to conclude which decision should be the best to make. They can also take part in conducting an in-depth analysis of a business and examine which areas require improvement or has potential. Furthermore, they may work with a company or independently as a freelance analyst.
Commercial analysts and research analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Analyst | Research Analyst | |
| Average salary | $83,036 | $70,232 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $114,000 | Between $45,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Finance |
There are a few differences between a commercial analyst and a research analyst in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Analyst | Research Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between commercial analysts' and research analysts' demographics:
| Commercial Analyst | Research Analyst | |
| Average age | 39 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.2% Female, 46.8% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.1% Unknown, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.7% Asian, 10.7% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 11.3% Asian, 14.3% White, 64.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 10% |