What Do Materials Analysts Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for materials analysts?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what materials analysts do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Materials Analysts Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about materials analysts by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Materials Analysts analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.
Popular Job Titles For Materials Analysts
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Logistics Coordinators
- Supply Chain Analysts
- Production Planners
- Supply Chain Associates
- Logistics Specialists
- Logistics Analysts
- Material Coordinators
- Supply Chain Specialists
- Demand Planners
- Inventory Analysts
- Planners/Schedulers
- Transportation Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for materials analysts can be found.
Best Industries for Materials Analysts
Materials Analysts Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 14.9%
- Federal Government, Military: 10.2%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 8.5%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 5.7%
- Freight Transportation Arrangement: 3.5%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 3.1%
- Other: 54.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of materials analysts can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 14.9% of all jobs for materials analysts were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Federal Government, Military (10.2%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.5%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5.7%), Freight Transportation Arrangement (3.5%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3.1%).
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What Do Materials Analysts Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what materials analysts do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work materials analysts do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that materials analysts tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for materials analysts, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Materials Analysts
Based on 152,047 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Materials Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Materials Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
Based on 152,047 job postings related to materials analysts, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for logistics, purchasing, inventory management, warehousing and procurement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for materials analysts, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
| Procurement | 24,473 | 16% |
| SAP Applications | 22,087 | 15% |
| Supply Chain Management | 20,430 | 13% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 20,213 | 13% |
| Project Management | 17,221 | 11% |
| Marketing | 14,332 | 9% |
| Finance | 13,879 | 9% |
| Process Improvement | 13,663 | 9% |
| Auditing | 13,573 | 9% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 13,494 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 13,161 | 9% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 13,106 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 12,891 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 12,662 | 8% |
| Inventory Control | 12,499 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
| Microsoft Excel | 41,948 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 37,065 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 36,254 | 24% |
| Sales | 35,156 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 32,092 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 25,928 | 17% |
| Leadership | 25,286 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 24,445 | 16% |
| Forecasting | 19,981 | 13% |
| Writing | 19,976 | 13% |
| Computer Literacy | 19,669 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 18,859 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 18,168 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 17,668 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 16,625 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Materials Analysts
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was logistics coordinators, with 8,817 unique job postings. Supply chain analysts were second, with 5,145 postings, followed by production planners, supply chain associates and logistics specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to materials analysts.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
| Logistics Analysts | 10,443 | 6.7% |
| Material Coordinators | 8,313 | 5.3% |
| Supply Chain Specialists | 7,041 | 4.5% |
| Demand Planners | 6,679 | 4.3% |
| Inventory Analysts | 4,944 | 3.2% |
| Planners/Schedulers | 4,747 | 3.1% |
| Transportation Coordinators | 4,930 | 3.2% |
| Material Planners | 4,642 | 3% |
| Delivery Coordinators | 5,841 | 3.8% |
| Supply Chain Planners | 3,860 | 2.5% |
| Supply Chain Coordinators | 4,294 | 2.8% |
| Supply Planners | 3,190 | 2.1% |
| Logistics Associates | 3,441 | 2.2% |
| Distribution Specialists | 3,258 | 2.1% |
| Materials Planners | 2,471 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for materials analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for materials analysts.
How much do materials analysts make?
Materials Analysts: How do you become one?
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