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The differences between materials associates and materials specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a materials specialist has an average salary of $44,143, which is higher than the $34,143 average annual salary of a materials associate.
The top three skills for a materials associate include OSHA, RF and management system. The most important skills for a materials specialist are customer service, logistics, and data entry.
| Materials Associate | Materials Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $34,143 | $44,143 |
| Hourly rate | $16.41 | $21.22 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 56,770 | 38,001 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A Materials Associate will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities for an organization. These include maintaining the production and distribution of products, documenting materials and supplies, and preparing finished products for shipment. As a Materials Associate, you will perform preventive maintenance of material handling equipment and schedule and monitor delivery pickups. You will also perform other duties that may include maintaining established company procedures, policies, and standards, maintaining a safe and clean work environment, and maintaining building security.
A materials specialist is responsible for researching efficient and high-quality materials for production and manufacturing processes, following the designs and specifications of the engineering team and design analysts. Materials specialists identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and vendors and determine the suitability of these items in the supply chain. They conduct data and statistical analysis to develop strategic techniques that would minimize the company's expenditures and cost. A materials specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing expense reports and discuss findings to the senior management.
Materials associates and materials specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Materials Associate | Materials Specialist | |
| Average salary | $34,143 | $44,143 |
| Salary range | Between $21,000 And $55,000 | Between $24,000 And $79,000 |
| Highest paying City | Coventry, RI | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a materials associate and a materials specialist in terms of educational background:
| Materials Associate | Materials Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 34% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between materials associates' and materials specialists' demographics:
| Materials Associate | Materials Specialist | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 84.6% Female, 15.4% | Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 6.7% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.6% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |