How to hire a merchandiser

How to hire a merchandiser, step by step

Here's a step-by-step merchandiser hiring guide:

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

What does a merchandiser do?

Post a merchandiser job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a merchandiser, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect merchandiser also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of merchandiser salaries for various roles:

   Type of Merchandiser	Description	Hourly rate
   Merchandiser	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$11-18
   Produce Clerk	Produce clerks are responsible for ensuring that the grocery store's fruits and vegetables are displayed orderly and pleasantly to the customers. They check to produce to guarantee that it is fresh and has no defects... Show more	$12-17
   Stock Clerk	Stock clerks are store employees who handle the display of goods. They ensure that store shelves are well-stocked at all times... Show more	$10-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • PET
   • Pallets
   • Back Room
   • POS
   • Sales Floor
   • Work Ethic
   • Store Management
   • Product Displays
   • Pallet Jack
   • Working Independently
   • Wine
   • Strong Time Management
   • Hand Tools

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Consult customers on Scotts products and educate them concerning the advantage and benefits over competitive products.
   • Manage jewelry stock and inventory balances accurately.
   • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
   • Google Adwords, SEO, etc.
   • Carry items up and down ladders.
   • Climb and work on ladders frequently.

   More merchandiser duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your merchandiser job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A merchandiser salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a merchandiser in Kentucky may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level merchandiser usually earns less than a senior-level merchandiser. Additionally, a merchandiser with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average merchandiser salary

   $14.93hourly

   $31,051 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level merchandiser salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 14, 2026

   Average merchandiser salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$35,971	$17
   2	Washington	$35,590	$17
   3	Oregon	$34,825	$17
   4	New York	$33,458	$16
   5	Minnesota	$32,330	$16
   6	Iowa	$30,756	$15
   7	Colorado	$30,495	$15
   8	Utah	$30,365	$15
   9	Michigan	$30,264	$15
   10	Illinois	$30,170	$15
   11	Maryland	$29,958	$14
   12	Maine	$29,435	$14
   13	New Mexico	$29,382	$14
   14	Wisconsin	$29,362	$14
   15	South Dakota	$29,341	$14
   16	Arizona	$29,240	$14
   17	Pennsylvania	$29,182	$14
   18	Nebraska	$28,954	$14
   19	Ohio	$28,917	$14
   20	Nevada	$28,847	$14

   Average merchandiser salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$76,549	$36.80
   2	Burberry	$64,407	$30.96
   3	Fruit of the Loom	$56,263	$27.05
   4	Opening Ceremony	$49,087	$23.60
   5	Bunge	$42,902	$20.63	4
   6	Dairy Farmers of America	$41,828	$20.11	1
   7	Dietz & Watson	$41,419	$19.91	10
   8	ADM	$40,953	$19.69	1
   9	Alto Ingredients	$40,038	$19.25
   10	Gavilon	$39,935	$19.20	1
   11	VOLCOM	$39,484	$18.98
   12	Bassett Furniture Industries	$39,034	$18.77
   13	United Natural Foods	$39,000	$18.75	7
   14	D.R. Horton	$38,272	$18.40
   15	Tractor Supply	$37,671	$18.11	6
   16	Blackhawk Network	$37,541	$18.05	14
   17	Clover Sonoma	$37,392	$17.98
   18	Prairie Farms Dairy	$37,072	$17.82	5
   19	The Mosaic Company	$36,934	$17.76	11
   20	The Coca-Cola Company	$36,494	$17.55	190

4. Writing a merchandiser job description

   A merchandiser job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a merchandiser job description:

   Merchandiser job description example

   Merchandising Execution Associates: All Merchandising Execution Associates (MEAs) perform in-store merchandising service activities such as merchandising projects, planogram maintenance, overhead organization, and display/signage maintenance designed to enhance the customer experience. MEAs execute merchandising strategies and ensure products are displayed correctly to drive sales. MEAs work in teams, with on-site supervision and provide service to multiple departments in the store. Their focus is on general bay service, projects and product resets while always keeping safety, accuracy and efficiency at the forefront. MEAs build and maintain strong relationships with store associates and provide superior customer service to both internal and external customers.
   
   Full Time and Part Time positions

   Day Team Merchandising Execution Associates (MEAs) spend approximately 80% of their time conducting general bay service or maintenance, ensuring that the products are stocked and properly merchandised to provide the customer the best possible shopping experience. Typically, 20% of their time is spent executing special projects designed to improve how products are displayed to the customer and to our suppliers needs.
   
   Full Time and Part Time positions

   Night Team Merchandising Execution Associate(MEAs) spend approximately 80% of their time executing specific projects that introduce new items and conducting category resets to enhance the customer experience. Typically, 20% of their time is spent building displays and fixtures while utilizing basic hand tools in addition to refreshing display material/signage/brochures. Some general bay maintenance will occasionally be required. Night MEAs may be on a traveling team typically service multiple stores typically within a 30-mile radius. Mileage reimbursement is available for travel positions and must have reliable transportation.
   
   Full Time and Part time position

   Merchandising Services Specialists:
   Merchandising Services Specialists are responsible for implementing company standards for appearance and arrangement and ordering of merchandise. Plans and coordinates merchandise flow-through. Responsible for servicing and maintaining all assigned locations according to a set weekly visitation schedule.
   
   Full Time and Part Time positions

   
   Pay Rate: -

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find merchandisers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your merchandiser job on Zippia to find and recruit merchandiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with merchandiser 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 merchandiser

   Once you have selected a candidate for the merchandiser 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new merchandiser. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a merchandiser?