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The differences between merchandisers and visual merchandisers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a visual merchandiser has an average salary of $38,037, 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 visual merchandiser are customer service, ladders, and sales floor.
| Merchandiser | Visual Merchandiser | |
| Yearly salary | $31,051 | $38,037 |
| Hourly rate | $14.93 | $18.29 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 109,447 | 74,351 |
| Job satisfaction | 4.4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| 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 visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.
Merchandisers and visual merchandisers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandiser | Visual Merchandiser | |
| Average salary | $31,051 | $38,037 |
| Salary range | Between $24,000 And $39,000 | Between $27,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Richmond, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New York |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | RH |
| Best paying industry | Education | Retail |
There are a few differences between a merchandiser and a visual merchandiser in terms of educational background:
| Merchandiser | Visual Merchandiser | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 33% | Bachelor's Degree, 57% |
| Most common major | Business | Specialized Sales And Merchandising |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between merchandisers' and visual merchandisers' demographics:
| Merchandiser | Visual Merchandiser | |
| Average age | 38 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 58.0% Female, 42.0% | Male, 27.3% Female, 72.7% |
| 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, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 17% |