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The differences between merchandise leads and assistant managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a merchandise lead and an assistant manager. Additionally, an assistant manager has an average salary of $39,127, which is higher than the $35,572 average annual salary of a merchandise lead.
The top three skills for a merchandise lead include sales floor, customer service and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for an assistant manager are paperwork, cleanliness, and customer service.
| Merchandise Lead | Assistant Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $35,572 | $39,127 |
| Hourly rate | $17.10 | $18.81 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 72,605 | 566,132 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
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.
An assistant manager provides assistance and support to the direct manager in ensuring that the business runs smoothly with guaranteed satisfaction. An associate manager helps organize daily projects and manages employees to make sure that tasks are being done in a timely and accurate manner. Assistant managers are also expected to develop a good relationship with the whole workforce and clients to contribute to a successful and healthy workplace. An assistant manager is also required to present practical strategies for business growth, monitor daily operations, and communicate with clients for any possible suggestions and complaints.
Merchandise leads and assistant managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandise Lead | Assistant Manager | |
| Average salary | $35,572 | $39,127 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $45,000 | Between $23,000 And $64,000 |
| Highest paying City | Green Bay, WI | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | PepsiCo | Simpson Thacher & Bartlett |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Finance |
There are a few differences between a merchandise lead and an assistant manager in terms of educational background:
| Merchandise Lead | Assistant Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between merchandise leads' and assistant managers' demographics:
| Merchandise Lead | Assistant Manager | |
| Average age | 43 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 42.5% Female, 57.5% | Male, 42.0% Female, 58.0% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 6.3% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.5% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 10% |