How to hire a merchandise analyst

How to hire a merchandise analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step merchandise analyst hiring guide:

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

What does a merchandise analyst do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the merchandise analyst you need to hire. Certain merchandise analyst roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A merchandise analyst's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, merchandise analysts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of merchandise analyst salaries for various roles:

   Type of Merchandise Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Merchandise Analyst	Market research analysts study market conditions to examine potential sales of a product or service. They help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them, and at what price.	$23-44
   Marketing Department Internship	A marketing department internship is a marketing degree program requirement in most colleges. This is the work experience period where interns get to apply the knowledge they acquire in the real world... Show more	$12-18
   Marketing Internship	Marketing interns are usually marketing students or fresh graduates who are interested in getting actual work experiences before taking on a full-time job. They usually have an interest or academic background related to marketing... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PowerPoint
   • SQL
   • Data Analysis
   • Digital Marketing
   • Gross Profit
   • Logistics
   • Purchase Orders
   • Gross Margin
   • JDA
   • KPI
   • Store Operations
   • Market Trends
   • Historical Data
   • Product Assortment

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a team of allocation analysts who distribute fashion jewelry to more than a thousand stores
   • Analyze and forecast sales, manage inventory levels and determine distribution strategy to all Marshalls stores.
   • Manage and maintain the OTB for specific departments by preparing forecasts, evaluating performance, and maximizing profitability while minimizing liabilities.
   • Allocate product to the appropriate stores using JDA system.
   • Analyze and allocate for women's intimate apparel, and accessories.
   • Analyze historical POS to create seasonal profiles for all items, allowing the system to more efficiently predict seasonal trends.

   More merchandise analyst duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, merchandise analysts' average salary in mississippi is 56% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level merchandise analysts 47% less than senior-level merchandise analysts.
   • Certifications. A merchandise analyst 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 merchandise analyst's salary.

   Average merchandise analyst salary

   $67,933yearly

   $32.66 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level merchandise analyst salary

   $49,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average merchandise analyst salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$102,614	$49
   2	New Jersey	$79,504	$38
   3	California	$79,332	$38
   4	Oregon	$77,609	$37
   5	Connecticut	$74,813	$36
   6	Michigan	$74,265	$36
   7	New York	$73,460	$35
   8	Minnesota	$72,388	$35
   9	Massachusetts	$69,999	$34
   10	North Carolina	$69,951	$34
   11	Tennessee	$68,382	$33
   12	Texas	$68,242	$33
   13	Maryland	$67,822	$33
   14	Georgia	$67,663	$33
   15	Illinois	$67,575	$32
   16	Virginia	$64,827	$31
   17	Rhode Island	$63,850	$31
   18	Nevada	$62,584	$30
   19	Arkansas	$61,214	$29
   20	Indiana	$60,089	$29

   Average merchandise analyst salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Macy's	$96,555	$46.42	5
   2	Patterson Companies	$90,953	$43.73	6
   3	Calvin Klein	$89,632	$43.09
   4	Walmart	$83,380	$40.09	163
   5	Southeastern Grocers	$83,123	$39.96
   6	Spencer's	$78,709	$37.84	3
   7	Bob's Discount Furniture	$78,156	$37.58
   8	Harris Teeter	$75,399	$36.25
   9	Fanatics	$75,329	$36.22	27
   10	Floor & Decor	$75,143	$36.13	5
   11	Target	$73,610	$35.39	8
   12	Williams Sonoma	$73,303	$35.24	29
   13	The Home Depot	$72,783	$34.99	30
   14	Finish Line	$72,612	$34.91	3
   15	Sally Beauty Holdings	$71,445	$34.35	2
   16	McLane	$71,414	$34.33	8
   17	Crocs	$71,354	$34.30	3
   18	Dollar General	$70,186	$33.74	2
   19	Oxford Solutions	$69,493	$33.41
   20	ICONMA	$69,482	$33.40	2

4. Writing a merchandise analyst job description

   A job description for a merchandise analyst role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a merchandise analyst job description:

   Merchandise analyst job description example

   The outdoors is a big place and just as it offers endless adventures, so does our company.
   
   Camping World and Gander RV & Outdoors is the premier one-stop-shop for everything RV. Along with RV parts and accessories, we also offer a full selection of new and used RVs for sale; service centers with over 2,500 bays and over 2,000 technicians on staff; over 135 collision centers; RV Spa detail and refurbishment centers; technical advice from knowledgeable experts and hard-to-find parts.
   
   The **Ecommerce Analyst** reports to the Ecommerce Business Manager and will perform day-to-day business tasks for Camping World's eCommerce sites inclusive of making updates in Salesforce Commerce Cloud Business Manager. This individual should have strong organizational, analytical and prioritization skills as well as an understanding of the eCommerce retail space.
   
   **Job Responsibilities**
   
   + Salesforce Business Manager updates and set-up for Products & Catalogs, Search & Online Marketing Coupons & Promotions
   
   + Regular reporting on eCommerce promotions and search metrics
   
   + Working cross-functionally to assist internal teams
   
   + Interpreting reporting and making suggestions based on analysis
   
   + Assisting in Ad-hoc projects as needed
   
   **Personality:**
   
   Motivated individual with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high-quality work.
   
   **Minimum Qualifications**
   
   + B.A. or B.S. in Business Administration, Marketing, Communications or related degree
   
   + 2+ years' experience in the retail Ecommerce space
   
   + Salesforce Business Manager experience highly preferred but not required
   
   + Must be a self-motivated team player, professional, detail orientated, and possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
   
   + Comfortable working cross-functionally and taking direction from multiple parties
   
   Full-time associates are offered a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401k and more! Part-time associates are offered access to dental & vision coverage! For more information please visit: www.mycampingworldbenefits.com
   
   We are an equal employment opportunity employer. The Company's policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, veteran or uniformed service-member status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find merchandise analysts 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 merchandise analysts they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level merchandise analysts 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.

   To find merchandise analyst candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as swipe files, exit five, marketinghire, american marketing association.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with merchandise analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 merchandise analyst

   Once you have selected a candidate for the merchandise analyst position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new merchandise analyst. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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 merchandise analyst?