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Merchandise lead salary
Average merchandise lead salary
$35,572
Understanding Merchandise Lead Salaries
The role of a Merchandise Lead is essential in maintaining the retail environment, focusing on product placement and inventory oversight. As of October 2025, their average salary stands at $35,572. This figure can vary significantly across states and cities, with higher salaries typically found in metropolitan areas. For instance, cities like New York and Los Angeles often offer salaries well above the national average.
Experience also plays a critical role in salary determination; those with several years in the field can command higher compensation. For example, entry-level Merchandise Leads may start closer to $30,000, while those with extensive experience may earn upwards of $50,000.
Moreover, opportunities for growth in this field are abundant. Many companies provide paths to managerial roles, increasing both responsibility and salary. It's advisable for job seekers to consider various employers and locations to maximize their earning potential. The retail industry is evolving, and skilled Merchandise Leads are increasingly sought after for their ability to enhance customer experience and drive sales.
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Where can a Merchandise Lead earn more?
Merchandise lead salaries by experience level
Average merchandise lead salary by state
The average merchandise lead salary in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average merchandise lead salary states are Florida, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for merchandise leads
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $55,992 | $26.92 |
| 2 | Wyoming | $40,896 | $19.66 |
| 3 | North Dakota | $42,110 | $20.25 |
| 4 | Wisconsin | $42,084 | $20.23 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $40,362 | $19.40 |
| 6 | Missouri | $39,943 | $19.20 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $39,110 | $18.80 |
| 8 | Michigan | $38,544 | $18.53 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $45,946 | $22.09 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $49,131 | $23.62 |
| 11 | Vermont | $42,216 | $20.30 |
| 12 | Idaho | $38,936 | $18.72 |
| 13 | Alaska | $40,268 | $19.36 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $41,633 | $20.02 |
| 15 | Utah | $36,613 | $17.60 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $34,943 | $16.80 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $36,762 | $17.67 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $47,085 | $22.64 |
| 19 | New York | $42,312 | $20.34 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $37,064 | $17.82 |
| 21 | Delaware | $41,797 | $20.09 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $39,221 | $18.86 |
| 23 | Colorado | $39,948 | $19.21 |
| 24 | Iowa | $36,312 | $17.46 |
| 25 | Maryland | $40,810 | $19.62 |
| 26 | Montana | $36,180 | $17.39 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $33,397 | $16.06 |
| 28 | Maine | $36,824 | $17.70 |
| 29 | Kansas | $34,562 | $16.62 |
| 30 | California | $39,763 | $19.12 |
| 31 | Virginia | $37,226 | $17.90 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $34,244 | $16.46 |
| 33 | Illinois | $37,294 | $17.93 |
| 34 | Connecticut | $37,836 | $18.19 |
| 35 | Indiana | $34,400 | $16.54 |
| 36 | Washington | $37,808 | $18.18 |
| 37 | Alabama | $32,975 | $15.85 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $33,471 | $16.09 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $34,209 | $16.45 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $33,192 | $15.96 |
| 41 | Ohio | $29,998 | $14.42 |
| 42 | Texas | $33,055 | $15.89 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $29,827 | $14.34 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $32,065 | $15.42 |
| 45 | Nevada | $29,802 | $14.33 |
| 46 | Louisiana | $31,923 | $15.35 |
| 47 | New Mexico | $28,253 | $13.58 |
| 48 | Florida | $30,372 | $14.60 |
| 49 | Georgia | $28,869 | $13.88 |
| 50 | Arizona | $31,135 | $14.97 |
| 51 | Oregon | $31,473 | $15.13 |
Highest paying cities for merchandise leads
The highest-paying cities for merchandise leads are Green Bay, WI, New York, NY, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Bay, WI | $42,705 | $20.53 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $42,308 | $20.34 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $41,012 | $19.72 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $40,860 | $19.64 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $39,984 | $19.22 |
| 6 | Allentown, PA | $39,335 | $18.91 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $39,196 | $18.84 |
| 8 | Kirkland, WA | $37,895 | $18.22 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $37,451 | $18.01 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $37,149 | $17.86 |
| 11 | Des Moines, IA | $36,167 | $17.39 |
| 12 | Fort Wayne, IN | $35,162 | $16.90 |
| 13 | Chattanooga, TN | $34,635 | $16.65 |
| 14 | Raleigh, NC | $34,601 | $16.64 |
| 15 | Frisco, TX | $33,342 | $16.03 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $31,206 | $15.00 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $30,718 | $14.77 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $29,717 | $14.29 |
| 19 | Marietta, GA | $29,049 | $13.97 |
| 20 | Albuquerque, NM | $28,421 | $13.66 |
Merchandise lead salary details
A merchandise lead's salary ranges from $27,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $45,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a merchandise lead's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $35,572 | $2,964 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
Highest paying merchandise lead jobs
The highest paying types of merchandise leads are visual merchandising manager, team leader, and sales leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key Holder | $31,779 | $2,648 | $15.28 | 431,956 |
| Department Manager | $67,160 | $5,597 | $32.29 | 330,327 |
| Department Supervisor | $47,300 | $3,942 | $22.74 | 216,893 |
| Co-Manager | $64,962 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 258,234 |
| Shift Supervisor | $34,141 | $2,845 | $16.41 | 282,079 |
| Sales Supervisor | $40,860 | $3,405 | $19.64 | 424,088 |
Top companies hiring merchandise leads now:
Which companies pay merchandise leads the most?
Merchandise lead salaries at PepsiCo and Meta are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average merchandise lead salary at companies like Reyes Holdings and Harley-Davidson are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PepsiCo | $43,372 | $20.85 |
| 2 | Meta | $42,887 | $20.62 |
| 3 | Reyes Holdings | $42,353 | $20.36 |
| 4 | Harley-Davidson | $42,341 | $20.36 |
| 5 | Keurig Dr Pepper | $41,146 | $19.78 |
| 6 | Gap Inc. | $40,957 | $19.69 |
| 7 | VF | $40,881 | $19.65 |
| 8 | Target | $40,242 | $19.35 |
| 9 | Rite Aid | $39,923 | $19.19 |
| 10 | Mattel | $38,170 | $18.35 |
| 11 | Belk | $37,650 | $18.10 |
| 12 | Footprint | $37,470 | $18.01 |
| 13 | The Retail Odyssey Company | $37,470 | $18.01 |
| 14 | Under Armour | $37,372 | $17.97 |
| 15 | Williams Sonoma | $37,271 | $17.92 |
| 16 | Advantage Solutions | $37,175 | $17.87 |
| 17 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $37,044 | $17.81 |
| 18 | Vans | $36,826 | $17.70 |
| 19 | ActionLink | $36,758 | $17.67 |
| 20 | RH | $36,717 | $17.65 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Merchandise lead salary trends
The average merchandise lead salary has risen by $4,363 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average merchandise lead earned $31,209 annually, but today, they earn $35,572 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for merchandise leads over the last decade.
Compare merchandise lead salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average merchandise lead salary over time
Compare merchandise lead salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Merchandise lead salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,600 | $17.10 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $34,500 | $16.60 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $33,900 | $16.30 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $33,000 | $15.86 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | $33,400 | $16.06 | +1.9% |
Recently added merchandise lead salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reyes Holdings | Lead Merchandiser | Kailua, HI | 06/29/2025 | $50,088 |
| Kohl's | Store Merchandising Lead | Joliet, IL | 06/28/2025 | $34,749 |
| Walmart | Merchandising Lead | Great Falls, MT | 06/28/2025 | $43,827 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Merchandising Lead | Houston, TX | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Merchandising Lead | Long Beach, CA | 06/27/2025 | $43,827 |
| Wal-Mart | Merchandising Lead | Kansas City, MO | 06/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Merchandising Lead | Flint, MI | 06/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Merchandising Lead | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/24/2025 | $43,827 |
| Wal-Mart | (USA) Merchandising Lead | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| Kohl's | Store Merchandising Lead | Longview, TX | 06/22/2025 | $30,157 |
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