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The differences between merchandisers and stowers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a merchandiser has an average salary of $31,051, which is higher than the $27,464 average annual salary of a stower.
The top three skills for a merchandiser include customer service, PET and pallets. The most important skills for a stower are PET, pallets, and basic math.
| Merchandiser | Stower | |
| Yearly salary | $31,051 | $27,464 |
| Hourly rate | $14.93 | $13.20 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 109,447 | 198,954 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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.
A stower is responsible for scanning a product and appropriately placing it to the right shelf for customer's consumption. Duties of a stower include inspecting the item for any defects and escalating damaged items to the supervisor ensuring adequately labeled products. Other responsibilities include operating essential store equipment, adhering to the sanitary standards of the working area, and assisting customers with their concerns and inquiries. A stower should have excellent time-management skills and the ability to multi-task, especially on working with a fast-paced environment.
Merchandisers and stowers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandiser | Stower | |
| Average salary | $31,051 | $27,464 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $21,000 And $34,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | Lakewood, WA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Washington |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Rich Products |
| Best paying industry | Education | Technology |
There are a few differences between a merchandiser and a stower in terms of educational background:
| Merchandiser | Stower | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandisers' and stowers' demographics:
| Merchandiser | Stower | |
| Average age | 38 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0% | Male, 69.9% Female, 30.1% |
| 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, 8.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |