Assistant department head vs merchandise lead

The differences between assistant department heads and merchandise leads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an assistant department head and a merchandise lead. Additionally, an assistant department head has an average salary of $65,309, which is higher than the $35,572 average annual salary of a merchandise lead.

The top three skills for an assistant department head include ladders, sales floor and customer service. The most important skills for a merchandise lead are sales floor, customer service, and customer satisfaction.

Assistant department head vs merchandise lead overview

	Assistant Department Head	Merchandise Lead
Yearly salary	$65,309	$35,572
Hourly rate	$31.40	$17.10
Growth rate	-	6%
Number of jobs	41,690	72,605
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	6	6

What does an assistant department head do?

An assistant department head is responsible for monitoring the operations of the department, together with the department head. Assistant department heads' duties include managing clients' inquiries and complaints, developing strategic solutions to improve clients' satisfaction, and identifying business opportunities to increase revenues and the business' profitability. They will also work on monitoring the staff's performance and addressing their concerns, creating sales reports, maintaining budget goals, and organizing training. An assistant department head must have excellent leadership and communication skills to help in achieving the department's objectives.

What does a merchandise lead do?

A merchandise lead is responsible for strategizing merchandise methods to reach sales performance targets. Merchandise leads assist the consumers in choosing the best products according to their needs and budget limitations. They evaluate the current market trends to generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability by negotiating with trusted suppliers and vendors. A merchandise lead must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in helping with marketing and promotional campaigns to attract consumers' interests and meet public demands.

Assistant department head vs merchandise lead salary

Assistant department heads and merchandise leads have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Assistant Department Head	Merchandise Lead
Average salary	$65,309	$35,572
Salary range	Between $39,000 And $106,000	Between $27,000 And $45,000
Highest paying City	Centereach, NY	Green Bay, WI
Highest paying state	New York	Rhode Island
Best paying company	Princeton University	PepsiCo
Best paying industry	Energy	Retail

Differences between assistant department head and merchandise lead education

There are a few differences between an assistant department head and a merchandise lead in terms of educational background:

	Assistant Department Head	Merchandise Lead
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 49%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi	SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Assistant department head vs merchandise lead demographics

Here are the differences between assistant department heads' and merchandise leads' demographics:

	Assistant Department Head	Merchandise Lead
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 54.9% Female, 45.1%	Male, 42.5% Female, 57.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 7.4% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%	Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.1% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between assistant department head and merchandise lead duties and responsibilities

Assistant department head example responsibilities.

Generate and implement new rules and regulations for the disciplinary department which lead to streamlining the process for separating challenge sailors.
Manage a high volume of patient information from authorizing diagnostic procedures and scheduling patients.
Perform all duties require while working in a retail environment such as POS cash handling, customer service and sales.
Stoop, climb ladders, and lift heavy loads during set-up for events.
Administer Microsoft PowerPoint training lectures and meeting/ briefings require by OSHA and NAVOSH.
Collaborate with patients, Tricare, and providers DOD and civilian coordinating specialty care referrals.

Merchandise lead example responsibilities.

Manage merchandising for lumber, building materials, paint, hardware, plumbing, electrical, and the garden department.
Facilitate price checks and pitch in to bag groceries as needed.
Coordinate all POS arrangements and merchandise as strategically design in floor plans.
Assist in all administrative responsibilities including opening and closing store, organization standards, scheduling and payroll processing.
Assist in CAO roll-out to other stores in district.
Coordinate production of sketch books for presentation of final dress line to sales force and top management of company.

Assistant department head vs merchandise lead skills

Common assistant department head skills

Ladders, 29%
Sales Floor, 28%
Customer Service, 11%
Curriculum Development, 3%
Professional Development, 3%
Loss Prevention, 3%

Common merchandise lead skills

Sales Floor, 17%
Customer Service, 8%
Customer Satisfaction, 7%
Store Management, 7%
POS, 6%
Product Knowledge, 6%

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Assistant Department Head
Assistant Department Head vs Merchandise Lead

Updated January 8, 2025

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