Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between commodity analysts and purchasing buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a commodity analyst and a purchasing buyer. Additionally, a commodity analyst has an average salary of $87,261, which is higher than the $47,471 average annual salary of a purchasing buyer.
The top three skills for a commodity analyst include risk management, commodities and macro. The most important skills for a purchasing buyer are purchase orders, logistics, and cost savings.
| Commodity Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,261 | $47,471 |
| Hourly rate | $41.95 | $22.82 |
| Growth rate | 11% | - |
| Number of jobs | 11,130 | 21,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A commodity analyst focuses on the raw material part of the stock market. This job can range from analyzing oil and electricity to soybeans and fruits. Typical tasks of a commodity analyst include monitoring the commodities and market industries, analyzing financial information, and drafting accurate reports for investors. This analyst requires at least a bachelor's degree in finance, economics, or a related field. Other qualifications include using computer software, a thorough knowledge of economics, and analytical skills.
In a retail setting, a purchasing buyer is primarily responsible for devising strategies for procuring supplies, ensuring that it aligns with the company's needs and standards. They are also responsible for conducting thorough marketing research and analysis, coordinating with different departments to gather and process documentation, liaising and negotiating with vendors and suppliers, and keeping track of all purchasing orders to ensure accuracy and timeliness. Furthermore, as a purchasing buyer, it is essential to maintain records of all transactions and submit regular reports to supervisors.
Commodity analysts and purchasing buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commodity Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average salary | $87,261 | $47,471 |
| Salary range | Between $63,000 And $119,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Boston, MA | Goleta, CA |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | California |
| Best paying company | Apple | Aramco Services Company |
| Best paying industry | Finance | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a commodity analyst and a purchasing buyer in terms of educational background:
| Commodity Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between commodity analysts' and purchasing buyers' demographics:
| Commodity Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 63.6% Female, 36.4% | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 65.5% 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, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |