Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a merchandising assistant stands at approximately $34,679 annually, translating to around $17 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific industry.
Entry-level merchandising assistants typically earn less than their more experienced counterparts. For instance, those with just a few years of experience may see salaries ranging from $30,000 to $35,000, while those with over five years can earn upwards of $40,000.
Location plays a vital role in salary expectations. States such as California and New York often offer higher salaries due to the higher cost of living and competitive job markets. In contrast, states like Ohio and Indiana may present lower average salaries.
Merchandising assistants can advance to positions such as merchandising manager or category manager, which typically come with higher salaries and responsibilities. Continuous skill development and networking within the industry can significantly enhance career prospects.
Let Zippi find your next merchandising assistant job
Let Zippi find your next merchandising assistant job
The highest-paying states for merchandising assistants are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average merchandising assistant salary states are Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $54,489 | $26.20 |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $47,969 | $23.06 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $48,969 | $23.54 |
| 4 | New York | $47,321 | $22.75 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $46,091 | $22.16 |
| 6 | Maine | $38,679 | $18.60 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $41,381 | $19.89 |
| 8 | Illinois | $40,954 | $19.69 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $38,573 | $18.54 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $38,835 | $18.67 |
| 11 | Wyoming | $38,007 | $18.27 |
| 12 | Ohio | $36,058 | $17.34 |
| 13 | Alaska | $42,817 | $20.59 |
| 14 | Vermont | $40,399 | $19.42 |
| 15 | Maryland | $40,694 | $19.56 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $37,259 | $17.91 |
| 17 | Michigan | $35,949 | $17.28 |
| 18 | Delaware | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $39,437 | $18.96 |
| 20 | Mississippi | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| 21 | Louisiana | $34,093 | $16.39 |
| 22 | California | $39,121 | $18.81 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $35,966 | $17.29 |
| 24 | Colorado | $36,986 | $17.78 |
| 25 | Alabama | $34,264 | $16.47 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $41,777 | $20.09 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $32,625 | $15.69 |
| 28 | Idaho | $36,742 | $17.66 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $35,876 | $17.25 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $33,067 | $15.90 |
| 31 | Arizona | $32,662 | $15.70 |
| 32 | Iowa | $34,174 | $16.43 |
| 33 | Indiana | $31,878 | $15.33 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $32,687 | $15.71 |
| 35 | Virginia | $34,401 | $16.54 |
| 36 | Missouri | $33,803 | $16.25 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $30,378 | $14.60 |
| 38 | Nevada | $33,225 | $15.97 |
| 39 | Washington | $35,213 | $16.93 |
| 40 | Montana | $33,468 | $16.09 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $31,767 | $15.27 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $30,086 | $14.46 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $29,705 | $14.28 |
| 44 | Utah | $31,349 | $15.07 |
| 45 | Florida | $28,934 | $13.91 |
| 46 | Oregon | $33,941 | $16.32 |
| 47 | Kansas | $32,284 | $15.52 |
| 48 | Georgia | $29,773 | $14.31 |
| 49 | Texas | $29,436 | $14.15 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $28,180 | $13.55 |
| 51 | New Mexico | $26,973 | $12.97 |
The highest-paying cities for merchandising assistants are New York, NY, Norwood, MA, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $47,396 | $22.79 |
| 2 | Norwood, MA | $41,374 | $19.89 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $41,173 | $19.79 |
| 4 | Monterey, CA | $40,462 | $19.45 |
| 5 | Oakdale, MN | $38,656 | $18.58 |
| 6 | Denver, CO | $37,000 | $17.79 |
| 7 | Eau Claire, WI | $36,119 | $17.36 |
| 8 | Livonia, MI | $36,036 | $17.32 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $35,304 | $16.97 |
| 10 | Richmond, VA | $34,283 | $16.48 |
| 11 | Columbia, MO | $33,935 | $16.31 |
| 12 | Overland Park, KS | $32,388 | $15.57 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $30,999 | $14.90 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $30,271 | $14.55 |
| 15 | Plano, TX | $29,159 | $14.02 |
| 16 | Jacksonville, FL | $29,036 | $13.96 |
A merchandising assistant's salary ranges from $25,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $46,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| 75th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| Average | $34,679 | $2,890 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
The highest paying types of merchandising assistants are merchandising execution associate, team leader, and department manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Leader | $68,817 | $5,735 | $33.09 | 197,336 |
| Key Holder | $31,779 | $2,648 | $15.28 | 431,956 |
| Department Manager | $67,160 | $5,597 | $32.29 | 330,327 |
| Shift Supervisor | $34,141 | $2,845 | $16.41 | 282,079 |
| Merchandise Coordinator | $36,658 | $3,055 | $17.62 | 23,637 |
| Merchandise Lead | $35,572 | $2,964 | $17.10 | 72,605 |
Top companies hiring merchandising assistants now:
Merchandising assistant salaries at Softpath System and ALDI USA are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average merchandising assistant salary at companies like KIWANIS CLUB OF CHINATOWN FOUNDATION and Target are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Softpath System | $51,280 | $24.65 |
| 2 | ALDI USA | $49,890 | $23.99 |
| 3 | KIWANIS CLUB OF CHINATOWN FOUNDATION | $41,491 | $19.95 |
| 4 | Target | $40,571 | $19.51 |
| 5 | The Andersons | $39,933 | $19.20 |
| 6 | Reyes Holdings | $39,825 | $19.15 |
| 7 | Gap Inc. | $39,622 | $19.05 |
| 8 | Sysco | $39,134 | $18.81 |
| 9 | Ashley HomeStore | $38,544 | $18.53 |
| 10 | TalentBurst | $38,205 | $18.37 |
| 11 | Macy's | $37,685 | $18.12 |
| 12 | Ralph Lauren | $37,582 | $18.07 |
| 13 | Troon | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| 14 | Belk | $37,172 | $17.87 |
| 15 | Guitar Center | $37,053 | $17.81 |
| 16 | Coach | $37,014 | $17.80 |
| 17 | Fashion Nova | $36,959 | $17.77 |
| 18 | The Coca-Cola Company | $36,706 | $17.65 |
| 19 | RH | $36,519 | $17.56 |
| 20 | Akhan Semiconductor | $35,276 | $16.96 |
The average merchandising assistant salary has risen by $4,254 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average merchandising assistant earned $30,425 annually, but today, they earn $34,679 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for merchandising assistants over the last decade.
Compare merchandising assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare merchandising assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,700 | $16.67 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $33,700 | $16.18 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $33,100 | $15.89 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $32,200 | $15.46 | -1.3% |
| 2021 | $32,600 | $15.65 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Gap | Merchandise Assistant, Women's, Active Bottoms | San Francisco, CA | 06/26/2025 | $45,288 |
| Windsor Fashions | Merchandising Assistant | Santa Fe Springs, CA | 06/25/2025 | $45,914 |
| Primark | Visual Merchandising Assistant Roosevelt Field Mall | Garden City, KS | 06/22/2025 | $46,958 |
| Serpentini Chevrolet | Dealership Merchandising Assistant | Tallmadge, OH | 06/21/2025 | $37,566 |
| Ralph Lauren | Digital Site Merchandising Assistant | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $50,171 |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | Merchandise Assistant (California Buying Office) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/20/2025 | $50,088 |
| Primark | Visual Merchandising Assistant Roosevelt Field Mall | Garden City, MI | 06/20/2025 | $46,958 |
| Tawa Supermarket Inc. | Merchandising Assistant-Seafood | Union City, CA | 06/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Helmet House | Merchandising Assistant | Calabasas, CA | 06/18/2025 | $48,001 |
| Chalet | Retail Visual Merchandising Assistant | Wilmette, IL | 06/11/2025 | $37,566 |
Search for merchandising assistant jobs