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Field manager vs visual merchandising manager

The differences between field managers and visual merchandising managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a field manager, becoming a visual merchandising manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a visual merchandising manager has an average salary of $97,250, which is higher than the $68,695 average annual salary of a field manager.

The top three skills for a field manager include minor maintenance, patients and customer service. The most important skills for a visual merchandising manager are customer service, POS, and store operations.

Field manager vs visual merchandising manager overview

Field ManagerVisual Merchandising Manager
Yearly salary$68,695$97,250
Hourly rate$33.03$46.75
Growth rate8%10%
Number of jobs79,90823,486
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Average age4643
Years of experience86

What does a field manager do?

A field manager is an individual who manages a staff of field representatives that travel to customers' sites to promote their products or services. Field managers must hire new employees and arrange in-house and vendor training programs to ensure they have a full understanding of their responsibilities. They must evaluate all their field employees and generate reports highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the team. Field managers may work in different industries that have outside sales representatives such as pharmaceutical companies, computer repair companies, or HVAC companies.

What does a visual merchandising manager do?

A visual merchandising manager is responsible for facilitating the arrangement of visual displays to attract customers to purchase the products. Visual merchandising managers monitor the sales performance of the store and develop effective merchandise strategies to boost revenues and increase profitability. They also assist in creating promotional events and discount offers, as well as designing the store's layout during special occasions. A visual merchandising manager must have excellent leadership and communication skills, especially on guiding the staff's performance and implementing techniques to maximize productivity.

Field manager vs visual merchandising manager salary

Field managers and visual merchandising managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Field ManagerVisual Merchandising Manager
Average salary$68,695$97,250
Salary rangeBetween $43,000 And $109,000Between $67,000 And $139,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MABridgeport, CT
Highest paying stateNevadaRhode Island
Best paying companyGenentechMeta
Best paying industryTelecommunicationRetail

Differences between field manager and visual merchandising manager education

There are a few differences between a field manager and a visual merchandising manager in terms of educational background:

Field ManagerVisual Merchandising Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 65%
Most common majorBusinessSpecialized Sales And Merchandising
Most common collegeCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoUniversity of Pennsylvania

Field manager vs visual merchandising manager demographics

Here are the differences between field managers' and visual merchandising managers' demographics:

Field ManagerVisual Merchandising Manager
Average age4643
Gender ratioMale, 73.0% Female, 27.0%Male, 31.7% Female, 68.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.8% White, 71.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage4%9%

Differences between field manager and visual merchandising manager duties and responsibilities

Field manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage RFI process and coordination amongst all trades.
  • Manage accurate store visit information in CRM's, Salesforce and Netsuite.
  • Manage projects and staff to collect funds for lobbying efforts against reversal of EPA edicts
  • Cultivate and leverage a network of high-achieving partners to grow relationships, leads and sales.
  • Manage a marketing team that walk door to door offering information on replacement windows to homeowners.
  • Manage named, enterprise accounts in public, healthcare and commercial verticals in Oregon and SW Washington.
  • Show more

Visual merchandising manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage entire inventory including receiving, store transfers, RTV's, and damages.
  • Purchase and manage apparel, footwear and accessories inventory for successful regional outdoor and lifestyle retailer.
  • Supervise the implementation of visual plan-o-grams and displays; replenish merchandise by receiving product through trucks and back stock.
  • Install POS collateral as well as new shop concepts and direct departmental floor moves to create an inviting shopping experience.
  • Act as the creative force behind client presentations (PowerPoint) for Disney, AMC, and national cable TV channels.
  • Ensure plan-o-grams are completed timely and correctly.
  • Show more

Field manager vs visual merchandising manager skills

Common field manager skills
  • Minor Maintenance, 12%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Medicare, 6%
  • Rental Equipment, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common visual merchandising manager skills
  • Customer Service, 16%
  • POS, 6%
  • Store Operations, 6%
  • Ladders, 6%
  • Direct Reports, 5%
  • Loss Prevention, 5%

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