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What is a merchandising associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A merchandising associate ensures the proper display of products in a retail store. Their duties include setting up displays, arranging merchandise, stocking shelves, and pricing products. They work with managers, buyers, and associates to ensure a visually appealing and well-stocked store. Merchandising associates use communication skills, attention to detail, and design expertise. They also need to work well under pressure, as they may face tight deadlines for product launches or seasonal promotions.

ScoreMerchandising AssociateUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $33,201

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
7.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.55%

Asian 6.97%

Black or African American 10.68%

Hispanic or Latino 20.29%

Unknown 5.10%

White 56.41%

Gender

female 56.16%

male 43.84%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
6.2

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
4.5

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.5

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a merchandising associate?

Pros

  • Interaction with customers and ability to provide excellent customer service

  • Opportunities for advancement within the retail industry

  • Potential for flexible scheduling and part-time options

  • Potential for employee discounts on merchandise

  • Opportunity to work with a team of individuals with similar interests

Cons

  • Physical demands of the job, including standing for long periods, lifting heavy merchandise, and moving quickly

  • Irregular working hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

  • Potential for low pay or limited benefits, especially for entry-level positions

  • Limited control over inventory or product selection decisions

  • Potential for working in a highly competitive industry with many job applicants

Merchandising associate career paths

Key steps to become a merchandising associate

  1. Explore merchandising associate education requirements

    Most common merchandising associate degrees

    Bachelor's

    41.0 %

    High School Diploma

    26.4 %

    Associate

    19.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific merchandising associate skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Cleanliness25.73%
    Sales Floor24.79%
    Customer Service20.97%
    Loss Prevention15.35%
    Store Management3.22%
  3. Complete relevant merchandising associate training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New merchandising associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a merchandising associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real merchandising associate resumes.
  4. Research merchandising associate duties and responsibilities

    • Manage e-commerce websites to maintain accurate information and maximize sales.
    • Maximize sales by displaying merchandise and maintain store cleanliness while executing superior customer service.
    • Assist customer with picking groceries in the absence of other staff.
    • Create monthly PowerPoint presentations for the team to use in high-level meetings.
  5. Prepare your merchandising associate resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your merchandising associate resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a merchandising associate resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable merchandising associate resume templates

    Build a professional merchandising associate resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your merchandising associate resume.
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    Merchandising Associate Resume
  6. Apply for merchandising associate jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a merchandising associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first merchandising associate job

Zippi

Are you a merchandising associate?

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Average merchandising associate salary

The average merchandising associate salary in the United States is $33,201 per year or $16 per hour. Merchandising associate salaries range between $26,000 and $42,000 per year.

Average merchandising associate salary
$33,201 Yearly
$15.96 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do merchandising associates rate their job?

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Merchandising associate reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2023
Cons

Can't say anything I buy the product that sells or does not a sale makes me profit. Always liked inventory.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2021
Pros

I like mostly that I work with team oriented people. Some people that care and will help and that help others whether it's work related or not. That have good employee morale amongst each other not necessarily management but amongst each other.

Cons

Double standards extra work extra tasks that aren't in the job description you're doing assumptions that you know everything you're doing and you know the right way of everything that you're doing even though no one's ever trained you to do what you're doing and what you're doing isn't necessarily in the jobs description for the title for lack of a better word that you actually have


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.