Mid-Level

Merchandiser

Merchandisers plan and manage what gets sold and how it's presented — selecting products, setting prices, and coordinating with stores or vendors on display and stock.

Career Level
Junior
Mid
Senior
Director
VP
Executive
Work Personality
C
E
R
A
S
I
Conventionalorganizing, detail-oriented
Enterprisingleading, persuading
Based on Holland Code framework
Job markets for Merchandisers
Employment concentration · ~400 areas
Based on employment in related occupations
BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
What it's like

What it's like to be a Merchandiser

Workdays mix analytical work — sales data, inventory levels, margin analysis — with operational work like vendor calls, store visits, or coordinating with the buying team. Travel to stores or vendors is often part of the role, and the time on the floor tends to inform decisions in ways the data alone can't.

Collaboration involves buyers, store operations, vendors, and marketing. What's harder than expected is balancing data with intuition — what numbers say sells and what merchants suspect will sell don't always match, and the merchandiser is often the person who has to make the call.

People who thrive tend to be commercially curious, detail-oriented, and good at balancing analysis with judgment. If you find satisfaction in shaping what customers see, the role often fits well. People who only trust data or only trust intuition tend to make bets that miss in different ways — the role rewards holding both.

RelationshipsAbove avg
IndependenceModerate
AchievementLower
SupportLower
Working ConditionsLower
RecognitionLower
O*NET Work Values survey
✦ Editorial — written by Truest from industry research and career patterns
Career Paths

Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.

$239K$179K$119K$60K$0KLower paying387 metro areas, sorted by salary level
All experience levels1
This level's estimated range
INDUSTRIES PAYING ABOVE AVERAGE
1 BLS OEWS May 2024 covers all Merchandisers (SOC 13-1199.06, 27-1026.00, 41-9011.00, 43-5071.00), not just this title · BEA RPP 2023
* Top salaries exceed this figure. BLS caps reported wages at ~$240K to protect individual privacy in high-earning roles.
Also appears in: Admin & Office, Arts & Media, Sales
Exploring the Merchandiser career path? Truest helps you figure out if it's the right fit — and plan your path forward.
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✦ Editorial — career progression and interview guidance based on industry patterns
The Broader Landscape

Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.

$30K–$148K
Salary Range
10th – 90th percentile
2.2M
U.S. Employment
-0.4%
10yr Growth
212K
Annual Openings

How this category is changing

$74K$71K$68K$65K$62K201920202021202220232024$62K$74K
BLS OEWS May 2024 · BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034

Skills & Requirements

SpeakingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingPersuasionSpeakingActive ListeningActive ListeningWritingPersuasion
O*NET OnLine · Bureau of Labor Statistics
13-1199.0627-1026.0041-9011.0043-5071.00

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Federal data: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (May 2024) · BLS Employment Projections · O*NET OnLine
Truest editorial: Fit check, role profile, things that vary, advancement analysis, lateral moves, interview questions.