Post job

Artist vs visual merchandiser

The differences between artists and visual merchandisers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an artist has an average salary of $68,690, which is higher than the $38,037 average annual salary of a visual merchandiser.

The top three skills for an artist include maya, adobe photoshop and customer service. The most important skills for a visual merchandiser are customer service, ladders, and sales floor.

Artist vs visual merchandiser overview

ArtistVisual Merchandiser
Yearly salary$68,690$38,037
Hourly rate$33.02$18.29
Growth rate6%10%
Number of jobs3,87074,351
Job satisfaction4-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does an artist do?

An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.

What does a visual merchandiser do?

A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.

Artist vs visual merchandiser salary

Artists and visual merchandisers have different pay scales, as shown below.

ArtistVisual Merchandiser
Average salary$68,690$38,037
Salary rangeBetween $42,000 And $110,000Between $27,000 And $53,000
Highest paying CitySan Rafael, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNew York
Best paying companyMetaRH
Best paying industryTechnologyRetail

Differences between artist and visual merchandiser education

There are a few differences between an artist and a visual merchandiser in terms of educational background:

ArtistVisual Merchandiser
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorFine ArtsSpecialized Sales And Merchandising
Most common collegeHarvard University-

Artist vs visual merchandiser demographics

Here are the differences between artists' and visual merchandisers' demographics:

ArtistVisual Merchandiser
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 45.2% Female, 54.8%Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage11%17%

Differences between artist and visual merchandiser duties and responsibilities

Artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage studio workload and advise print direction to in-house and freelance cad artists.
  • Manage online product catalog using Dreamweaver.
  • Assist customers with product selection and process POS transactions.
  • Provide comparative analysis on traditional vs. Mac vs. PC production.
  • Animate in-game characters, user interface assets and particle effects.
  • Own & operate a specialize faux painting, mural and art business.
  • Show more

Visual merchandiser example responsibilities.

  • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
  • Provide support to all meeting and VTC rooms.
  • Merchandise mens, ladies, kids, and accessories departments.
  • Operate audio board, PowerPoint, camera, and video switcher.
  • Assist outside vendor merchandisers (NIKE) with execution of planograms.
  • Assist with prop development and production for the 5 NYC flagship stores.
  • Show more

Artist vs visual merchandiser skills

Common artist skills
  • Maya, 13%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Graphic Design, 7%
  • Photography, 7%
  • VFX, 6%
Common visual merchandiser skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Ladders, 17%
  • Sales Floor, 10%
  • Store Management, 6%
  • Drive Sales, 6%
  • Kids, 5%

Browse arts, entertainment, sports, and media jobs