Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between merchandising assistants and assistant buyers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a merchandising assistant, becoming an assistant buyer takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, an assistant buyer has an average salary of $49,586, which is higher than the $34,679 average annual salary of a merchandising assistant.
The top three skills for a merchandising assistant include sales floor, customer service and customer issues. The most important skills for an assistant buyer are purchase orders, vendor relations, and customer service.
| Merchandising Assistant | Assistant Buyer | |
| Yearly salary | $34,679 | $49,586 |
| Hourly rate | $16.67 | $23.84 |
| Growth rate | 4% | - |
| Number of jobs | 22,645 | 15,090 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 6 | - |
A merchandising assistant is responsible for contributing new goods and services for the business, identifying business opportunities based on the market demands to drive revenues and increase profitability. Merchandising assistants also monitor stock inventories, negotiating with suppliers and other third-party vendors for deliveries, and strategizing on how to minimize costs without compromising the quality. They also help with arranging product displays, developing marketing campaigns, and planning promotional offers to attract customers for purchase. A merchandising assistant must have excellent communication skills, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, and directing them to the appropriate section for their needs.
An assistant buyer participates and assists in the procurement procedures in a retail company. One of their primary responsibilities revolves around selecting products according to company guidelines, handling and organizing purchase orders, and monitoring the budget. An assistant buyer may also have administrative support tasks such as responding to calls and correspondence, preparing paperwork and progress reports, arranging schedules, keeping records of invoices and inventory, and staying updated with trends. Furthermore, an assistant buyer must reach out to new suppliers and engage with vendors to maintain and establish a positive business relationship.
Merchandising assistants and assistant buyers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandising Assistant | Assistant Buyer | |
| Average salary | $34,679 | $49,586 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $46,000 | Between $36,000 And $67,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Softpath System | Fashion Nova |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a merchandising assistant and an assistant buyer in terms of educational background:
| Merchandising Assistant | Assistant Buyer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 79% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities |
Here are the differences between merchandising assistants' and assistant buyers' demographics:
| Merchandising Assistant | Assistant Buyer | |
| Average age | 43 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8% | Male, 23.5% Female, 76.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 7.0% White, 61.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.9% Asian, 6.6% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 15% |