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Merchandise lead vs shift supervisor

The differences between merchandise leads and shift supervisors 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 a shift supervisor. Additionally, a merchandise lead has an average salary of $35,572, which is higher than the $34,141 average annual salary of a shift supervisor.

The top three skills for a merchandise lead include sales floor, customer service and customer satisfaction. The most important skills for a shift supervisor are cash handling, store operations, and store management.

Merchandise lead vs shift supervisor overview

Merchandise LeadShift Supervisor
Yearly salary$35,572$34,141
Hourly rate$17.10$16.41
Growth rate6%10%
Number of jobs72,605282,079
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4343
Years of experience66

What does a merchandise lead do?

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.

What does a shift supervisor do?

Shift supervisors are responsible for the employees assigned to the shift that they are handling. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees who were expected to report to work at the specific shift came in. They also ensure that the employees are doing their jobs while at work. Shift supervisors are expected to ensure that employees are really working during working hours and properly delegate work. Shift supervisors ensure that the employees are productive and efficient in their jobs. They are expected to provide coaching and guidance so that the employees will be able to reach the goals assigned to the work team.

Merchandise lead vs shift supervisor salary

Merchandise leads and shift supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Merchandise LeadShift Supervisor
Average salary$35,572$34,141
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $45,000Between $26,000 And $44,000
Highest paying CityGreen Bay, WISan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandHawaii
Best paying companyPepsiCoAbbVie
Best paying industryRetailManufacturing

Differences between merchandise lead and shift supervisor education

There are a few differences between a merchandise lead and a shift supervisor in terms of educational background:

Merchandise LeadShift Supervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 49%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeSUNY College of Technology at DelhiSUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Merchandise lead vs shift supervisor demographics

Here are the differences between merchandise leads' and shift supervisors' demographics:

Merchandise LeadShift Supervisor
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 42.5% Female, 57.5%Male, 49.1% Female, 50.9%
Race ratioBlack 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, 8.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between merchandise lead and shift supervisor duties and responsibilities

Merchandise lead example responsibilities.

  • Manage merchandising for lumber, building materials, paint, hardware, plumbing, electrical, and the garden department.
  • Facilitate price checks and pitch in to bag groceries as needed.
  • Coordinate all POS arrangements and merchandise as strategically design in floor plans.
  • Assist in all administrative responsibilities including opening and closing store, organization standards, scheduling and payroll processing.
  • Assist in CAO roll-out to other stores in district.
  • Coordinate production of sketch books for presentation of final dress line to sales force and top management of company.

Shift supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Content include math skills, how to manage a monthly budget, job searches, and managing a home.
  • Manage a team of energy consultants in daily production, SPH (sales per hr.
  • Evaluate daily job objectives and utilize knowledge of math, physics, and engineering to achieve the desired results.
  • Manage a part-time managerial shift supervisor position that require daily bookkeeping in POS system.
  • Prepare overall security plans and manage security operations of organization, including assignments, staffing and payroll.
  • Carry out administrative functions including tracking ordering and managing inventory, and support the manager in monitoring store security and cleanliness.
  • Show more

Merchandise lead vs shift supervisor skills

Common merchandise lead skills
  • Sales Floor, 17%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Customer Satisfaction, 7%
  • Store Management, 7%
  • POS, 6%
  • Product Knowledge, 6%
Common shift supervisor skills
  • Cash Handling, 19%
  • Store Operations, 9%
  • Store Management, 9%
  • Loss Prevention, 7%
  • Food Products, 7%
  • Cash Flow, 5%