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The differences between merchandising assistants and merchandise coordinators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a merchandising assistant and a merchandise coordinator. Additionally, a merchandise coordinator has an average salary of $36,658, 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 a merchandise coordinator are cleanliness, sales floor, and merchandise presentation.
| Merchandising Assistant | Merchandise Coordinator | |
| Yearly salary | $34,679 | $36,658 |
| Hourly rate | $16.67 | $17.62 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 22,645 | 23,637 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 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.
A merchandise coordinator is responsible for monitoring the adequacy of supply inventory, creating purchase requests, and confirming the proper labeling of products. Merchandise coordinators assist with the creative arrangement of product displays, moving merchandise to the appropriate store section, informing the customers of the promotional products and discount offers, responding to the customers' inquiries and concerns, evaluating feature products' sales reports, and resolving customer complaints. A merchandise coordinator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, following store procedures and safety regulations at all times during the operational shift.
Merchandising assistants and merchandise coordinators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandising Assistant | Merchandise Coordinator | |
| Average salary | $34,679 | $36,658 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $46,000 | Between $29,000 And $45,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | North Kingstown, RI |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Softpath System | New Era Cap |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Media |
There are a few differences between a merchandising assistant and a merchandise coordinator in terms of educational background:
| Merchandising Assistant | Merchandise Coordinator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 66% | Bachelor's Degree, 65% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between merchandising assistants' and merchandise coordinators' demographics:
| Merchandising Assistant | Merchandise Coordinator | |
| Average age | 43 | 43 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.2% Female, 76.8% | Male, 27.6% Female, 72.4% |
| 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, 8.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.9% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |