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The differences between merchandisers and general merchandise clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general merchandise clerk has an average salary of $34,415, which is higher than the $31,051 average annual salary of a merchandiser.
The top three skills for a merchandiser include customer service, PET and pallets. The most important skills for a general merchandise clerk are product knowledge, product displays, and customer service.
| Merchandiser | General Merchandise Clerk | |
| Yearly salary | $31,051 | $34,415 |
| Hourly rate | $14.93 | $16.55 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 109,447 | 137,799 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
Merchandisers are employees working for a retail company. Merchandisers are mainly responsible for the store's products. They curate products that are in line with the store's branding. Merchandisers create purchase requisitions and, upon receipt of the products, create displays that would attract the customers. They also ensure that the inventory of the store is well-stocked. Merchandisers should be up to date with current market trends. They should also be familiar with what customers need and want. It is important for merchandisers to know their company's branding by heart. Merchandisers should be able to create good relationships with vendors as well so that their store may be chosen for special promotions.
This individual works in the GM section of a store. They interact with customers and assist them as they purchase merchandise. In this role, they are expected to place all special orders and to take stock of all products annually. Other responsibilities of this position include developing merchandise plans and ensuring they are compliant with quality standards. They may also have to evaluate merchandise and ensure credit payments are accurate.
Merchandisers and general merchandise clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandiser | General Merchandise Clerk | |
| Average salary | $31,051 | $34,415 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $27,000 And $42,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | - |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | - |
| Best paying industry | Education | - |
There are a few differences between a merchandiser and a general merchandise clerk in terms of educational background:
| Merchandiser | General Merchandise Clerk | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandisers' and general merchandise clerks' demographics:
| Merchandiser | General Merchandise Clerk | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0% | Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 6.4% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |