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The differences between supply chain 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 supply chain analyst and a purchasing buyer. Additionally, a supply chain analyst has an average salary of $67,450, which is higher than the $47,471 average annual salary of a purchasing buyer.
The top three skills for a supply chain analyst include supply chain, logistics and customer service. The most important skills for a purchasing buyer are purchase orders, logistics, and cost savings.
| Supply Chain Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $67,450 | $47,471 |
| Hourly rate | $32.43 | $22.82 |
| Growth rate | 28% | - |
| Number of jobs | 37,979 | 21,158 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
A supply chain analyst is responsible for handling the supply chain operations of an organization, aligning processes, and identifying areas of improvement to initiate procedures and create smooth supply delivery transactions. Supply chain analysts monitor the adequacy of stock inventory, including the trends in the market industry, to meet the public demands and ensuring that the business provides those interests. They also evaluate the supply cycle, from the planning stages to the final distribution, and analyzing aspects to minimize complexities and cost-reduction without compromising the quality of services.
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.
Supply chain analysts and purchasing buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Supply Chain Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average salary | $67,450 | $47,471 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $90,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Arlington, VA | Goleta, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Aramco Services Company |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a supply chain analyst and a purchasing buyer in terms of educational background:
| Supply Chain Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 73% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between supply chain analysts' and purchasing buyers' demographics:
| Supply Chain Analyst | Purchasing Buyer | |
| Average age | 41 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 59.3% Female, 40.7% | Male, 41.9% Female, 58.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.8% Asian, 11.4% White, 52.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | 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 | 9% | 7% |