How to hire a field merchandiser

How to hire a field merchandiser, step by step

Here's a step-by-step field merchandiser hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a field merchandiser job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new field merchandiser
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a field merchandiser do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The field merchandiser hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a field merchandiser to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a field merchandiser that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of field merchandisers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Field Merchandiser	Description	Hourly rate
   Field Merchandiser		$11-19
   Display Coordinator	A display coordinator manages and oversees the visual presentation of products and services. Despite having different responsibilities depending on their organization or industry of employment, it usually involves conducting market research and analyses, developing and implementing plans, communicating and negotiating with internal and external parties to secure supplies, and spearheading various events such as exhibits and shows... Show more	$12-33
   Merchandising Internship	In a merchandising internship, an intern's duties will depend on the directives of a supervising staff or manager. Their tasks may involve preparing and processing documents, organizing and disseminating files within the company, answering calls and correspondence, running errands, and participating in creating marketing strategies... Show more	$12-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Floor
   • Store Management
   • Store Associates
   • Plan-O-Grams
   • Customer Service
   • End Caps
   • Product Knowledge
   • POS
   • Expense Reports
   • POG
   • Sales Associates
   • Depot
   • Sales Promotions
   • Client Objectives

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Diagnose production problem and work with suppliers to present alternatives to both parties to achieve KPI (key performance indicator).
   • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
   • Insure proper POS placement and product merchandising of Epson printers, projectors, scanners, inks and papers.
   • Maintain proper inventory levels and ensure proper placement of POS materials.
   • Disassemble and construct wine and spirit departments for key accounts following detail product schematics.
   • Analyze click-through and conversion rates and other online KPI's utilizing Coremetrics.

   More field merchandiser duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your field merchandiser job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A field merchandiser can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, field merchandisers' average salary in alabama is 35% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level field merchandisers 40% less than senior-level field merchandisers.
   • Certifications. A field merchandiser with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a field merchandiser's salary.

   Average field merchandiser salary

   $15.14hourly

   $31,495 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level field merchandiser salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average field merchandiser salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$40,651	$20
   2	Oregon	$35,831	$17
   3	Wisconsin	$35,240	$17
   4	Maine	$33,706	$16
   5	Arizona	$33,506	$16
   6	New York	$32,754	$16
   7	Illinois	$31,847	$15
   8	New Hampshire	$31,579	$15
   9	Connecticut	$31,545	$15
   10	New Jersey	$31,396	$15
   11	Minnesota	$31,318	$15
   12	Colorado	$30,755	$15
   13	Virginia	$30,689	$15
   14	Massachusetts	$30,520	$15
   15	Maryland	$29,797	$14
   16	Georgia	$29,749	$14
   17	Iowa	$29,455	$14
   18	Ohio	$29,334	$14
   19	Michigan	$28,819	$14
   20	Louisiana	$28,023	$13

   Average field merchandiser salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Fruit of the Loom	$50,568	$24.31
   2	Aspen Snowmass	$46,989	$22.59	1
   3	Dodge	$35,140	$16.89
   4	Gordon Food Service	$34,612	$16.64	6
   5	Rite Aid	$34,038	$16.36
   6	ActionLink	$31,548	$15.17
   7	Wastequip	$31,318	$15.06
   8	So Good So You	$31,291	$15.04
   9	Southern Glazer's	$31,074	$14.94	186
   10	L&R Distributors	$30,879	$14.85	78
   11	Hanes Companies, Inc.	$30,813	$14.81	3
   12	Atlantic Coast Financial	$30,490	$14.66
   13	Acosta	$30,307	$14.57	2,927
   14	Turkey Hill Dairy	$30,244	$14.54	1
   15	New Leaf Community Markets	$29,709	$14.28
   16	Claire's	$29,534	$14.20
   17	7-Eleven	$28,713	$13.80
   18	Ocean State Job Lot	$28,461	$13.68
   19	84 Lumber	$27,803	$13.37

4. Writing a field merchandiser job description

   A field merchandiser job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a field merchandiser job description:

   Field merchandiser job description example

   Qualifications
   
   

   • Requires 2+ years of retail and/or merchandising experience, preferably within the Outdoor Industry
   • Ability to work independently while following established merchandising standards
   • Ability to maintain strong working relationship with store and warehouse operations
   • Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook and Excel. Experience with NetSuite and/or RTP a plus.
   • Must be well organized and detail oriented
   • Must be able to travel from store to store throughout the Aspen-Snowmass area
   

   
   
   Additional Information
   
   

   Work Environment
   The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; work in high, precarious places and outdoor weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles; risk of electrical shock and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.
   
   Physical Demands
   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include Close vision, Distance vision, Depth perception and Ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is frequently required to walk and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit.
   
   A physical assessment (Work Ready) is required for certain positions.
   Skiing or Snowboarding is required for certain winter positions.

   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

   Aspen Skiing Company / ASPENX / The Little Nell / Limelight Hotel is an equal opportunity employer.

   For an overview of Aspen Skiing Company's benefits and other compensation visit aspensnowmass.com/jobs/benefits

   As of March 11th 2022, Aspen Skiing Company, ASPENX, The Little Nell, and The Limelight Hotels will no longer require all active employees to be fully vaccinated in the workplace. Read more about our policies as it relates to employee safety here

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find field merchandisers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any field merchandisers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level field merchandisers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your field merchandiser job on Zippia to find and recruit field merchandiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit field merchandisers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new field merchandiser

   Once you've decided on a perfect field merchandiser candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a field merchandiser?