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The differences between cost analysts and staff analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a cost analyst and a staff analyst. Additionally, a staff analyst has an average salary of $99,158, which is higher than the $54,158 average annual salary of a cost analyst.
The top three skills for a cost analyst include cost analysis, financial analysis and cost estimates. The most important skills for a staff analyst are project management, process improvement, and technical support.
| Cost Analyst | Staff Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $54,158 | $99,158 |
| Hourly rate | $26.04 | $47.67 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 60,034 | 174,178 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Cost Analysts are employees with a strong background in finance or accounting. They are in charge of collecting financial data and analyzing the entries. They study the company's expenses and prepare pertinent reports. Cost Analysts look for inconsistencies in the financial data. This way, they can assist in auditing the company's spending. Cost Analysts also look for inefficiencies. They do so by tracking item costs and department budgets and monitoring department expenses. They are also involved in budget-setting activities.
Staff Analysts are employees who oversee the activities related to the employees. They monitor the performance of the employees and assess whether particular employees suit the role they have. They also assess the current roles in the company to see if those roles are really needed. Staff Analysts ensure that the manpower allocation in the company is efficient. They analyze staff-related data to check whether there are more areas for improvement. Staff Analysts may also be assigned to come up with projects related to improving productivity.
Cost analysts and staff analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Cost Analyst | Staff Analyst | |
| Average salary | $54,158 | $99,158 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $73,000 | Between $71,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | General Motors | Bayer |
| Best paying industry | Automotive | Technology |
There are a few differences between a cost analyst and a staff analyst in terms of educational background:
| Cost Analyst | Staff Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between cost analysts' and staff analysts' demographics:
| Cost Analyst | Staff Analyst | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.2% Female, 45.8% | Male, 47.6% Female, 52.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 8.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 12.1% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 13% | 12% |