Merchandise buyer demographics and statistics in the US
Merchandise buyer demographics research summary. Zippia estimates merchandise buyer demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our merchandise buyer estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about merchandise buyers after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 32,251 merchandise buyers currently employed in the United States.
- 62.8% of all merchandise buyers are women, while 37.2% are men.
- The average merchandise buyer age is 47 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of merchandise buyers is White (76.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (8.7%), Asian (6.7%) and Black or African American (3.9%).
- Merchandise buyers are most in-demand in Elkhart, IN.
- The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for merchandise buyers.
- 15% of all merchandise buyers are LGBT.
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Merchandise buyer demographics by:
Merchandise buyer gender statistics
62.8% of merchandise buyers are women and 37.2% of merchandise buyers are men.
- Female, 62.8%
- Male, 37.2%
Merchandise buyer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 62.8% |
| Male | 37.2% |
Merchandise buyer gender pay gap
Women earn 98¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$50,313
Female income
$49,259
Merchandise buyer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in merchandise buyer positions over time. Currently, 62.8% of merchandise buyers are female.
Merchandise buyer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 34.21% | 65.79% |
| 2011 | 29.60% | 70.40% |
| 2012 | 34.45% | 65.55% |
| 2013 | 34.75% | 65.25% |
| 2014 | 35.34% | 64.66% |
| 2015 | 44.70% | 55.30% |
| 2016 | 30.87% | 69.13% |
| 2017 | 32.59% | 67.41% |
| 2018 | 28.08% | 71.92% |
| 2019 | 44.77% | 55.23% |
| 2020 | 34.82% | 65.18% |
| 2021 | 37.24% | 62.76% |
Merchandise buyer related jobs gender ratio
We compared merchandise buyers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, timber buyer and chief estimator have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Coordinator | 9% | 91% |
| Conference Planning Manager | 9% | 91% |
| Human Resources Administrative Assistant | 9% | 91% |
| Merchandise Buyer | 37% | 63% |
| Electronic Security Specialist | 94% | 6% |
| Chief Estimator | 95% | 5% |
| Timber Buyer | 97% | 3% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Merchandise buyer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among merchandise buyers is White, which makes up 76.8% of all merchandise buyers. Comparatively, 8.7% of merchandise buyers are Hispanic or Latino and 6.7% of merchandise buyers are Asian.
- White, 76.8%
- Hispanic or Latino, 8.7%
- Asian, 6.7%
- Black or African American, 3.9%
- Unknown, 3.1%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Merchandise buyer race
| Merchandise buyer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 76.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 8.7% |
| Asian | 6.7% |
| Black or African American | 3.9% |
| Unknown | 3.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Merchandise buyer race and ethnicity over time
See how merchandise buyer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Merchandise buyer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 81.48% | 2.27% | 3.15% | 10.37% |
| 2011 | 71.13% | 12.12% | 2.37% | 11.88% |
| 2012 | 75.12% | 7.02% | 2.21% | 11.82% |
| 2013 | 71.88% | 11.17% | 4.23% | 9.62% |
| 2014 | 74.77% | 4.68% | 1.95% | 14.75% |
| 2015 | 75.11% | 7.57% | 1.89% | 10.50% |
| 2016 | 76.29% | 7.66% | 3.43% | 9.14% |
| 2017 | 80.84% | 6.03% | 2.18% | 8.04% |
| 2018 | 67.52% | 11.26% | 4.79% | 13.22% |
| 2019 | 78.36% | 5.68% | 2.85% | 11.50% |
| 2020 | 77.05% | 4.40% | 4.63% | 11.32% |
| 2021 | 76.77% | 3.94% | 6.69% | 8.69% |
Merchandise buyer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian merchandise buyers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown merchandise buyers have the lowest average salary at $49,494.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $49,494 |
| White | $50,750 |
| Black or African American | $49,683 |
| Asian | $51,410 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $50,255 |
Merchandise buyer age breakdown
The average age of merchandise buyers is 40+ years years old, representing 72% of the merchandise buyer population.
Merchandise buyer age breakdown
| Merchandise Buyer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 72% |
| 30-40 years | 18% |
| 20-30 years | 9% |
Merchandise buyer educational attainment
The most common degree for merchandise buyers is bachelor's degree, with 70% of merchandise buyers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 19% and associate degree degree at 5%.
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Associate, 19%
- Master's, 5%
- High School Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Merchandise buyers by degree level
| Merchandise buyer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 70% |
| Associate | 19% |
| Master's | 5% |
| High School Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Merchandise buyer jobs you might like
Merchandise buyer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, merchandise buyers with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $57,374 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, merchandise buyers earn a median annual income of $53,815 compared to $46,362 for merchandise buyers with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $57,374 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $45,954 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $53,815 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $46,362 |
Merchandise buyer employment statistics
Most merchandise buyers work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where merchandise buyers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where merchandise buyers work.
Merchandise buyer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 8% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 19% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 13% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 22% |
| > 10,000 employees | 31% |
Merchandise buyer jobs by company type
Employees with the merchandise buyer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most merchandise buyers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Merchandise buyer jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 28% |
| Private | 65% |
| Government | 1% |
Merchandise buyer jobs by industry
The most common industries for merchandise buyers are retail, manufacturing and hospitality.
Merchandise buyer industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 37% |
| Fortune 500 | 13% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Hospitality | 11% |
| Education | 5% |
| Media | 3% |
| Professional | 3% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Health Care | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Non Profits | 2% |
| Government | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Merchandise buyer turnover and employment statistics
Merchandise buyer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for merchandise buyers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Merchandise buyer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Merchandise buyer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 8.87% |
| 2011 | 5.43% |
| 2012 | 4.30% |
| 2013 | 5.75% |
| 2014 | 0.89% |
| 2015 | 1.89% |
| 2016 | 2.63% |
| 2017 | 3.96% |
| 2018 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 0.00% |
| 2021 | 0.94% |
Average merchandise buyer tenure
The average merchandise buyer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,414 merchandise buyers resumes in Zippia's database.
Merchandise buyer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 9% |
| 1-2 years | 33% |
| 3-4 years | 20% |
| 5-7 years | 17% |
| 8-10 years | 7% |
| 11+ years | 14% |
Merchandise buyer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of merchandise buyers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Job Cost Estimator | 4.41% | 48,835 |
| Senior Logistician | 8.65% | 2,335 |
| Marketing Program Specialist | 10.00% | 139,910 |
| Senior Sustainability Advisor | 11.05% | 40,253 |
| Public Works Inspector | 11.64% | 24,660 |
| Merchandise Buyer | 14.72% | - |
| Fundraising Coordinator | 19.25% | 19,121 |
Similar merchandise buyer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Job Cost Estimator | 4.41% | 48,835 |
| Senior Logistician | 8.65% | 2,335 |
| Marketing Program Specialist | 10.00% | 139,910 |
| Senior Sustainability Advisor | 11.05% | 40,253 |
| Public Works Inspector | 11.64% | 24,660 |
| Fundraising Coordinator | 19.25% | 19,121 |
Foreign languages spoken by merchandise buyers
The most common foreign language among merchandise buyers is Spanish at 51.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Chinese at 7.7% and French is the third-most popular at 5.8%.
- Spanish, 51.9%
- Chinese, 7.7%
- French, 5.8%
- Mandarin, 5.8%
- German, 3.8%
- Other, 25.0%
Merchandise buyer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 51.9% |
| Chinese | 7.7% |
| French | 5.8% |
| Mandarin | 5.8% |
| German | 3.8% |
| Other | 25.0% |
