Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The average salary for a merchandising associate is approximately $33,201 per year or $16 per hour. Salaries can vary based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry segment. For example, merchandising associates in states like California and New York may see higher salaries due to a higher cost of living and demand for skilled workers.
Entry-level merchandising associates typically earn around $28,000 annually, while those with several years of experience can command upwards of $40,000. This role not only offers competitive compensation but also the potential for advancement into positions such as visual merchandising manager or retail buyer.
Merchandising associates are vital in creating appealing displays and managing inventory, contributing significantly to sales and customer satisfaction. Therefore, this role is an excellent entry point for individuals looking to build a career in retail. With the right experience and skills, merchandising associates can transition into higher-paying roles, making it a promising career choice.
Let Zippi find your next merchandising associate job
Let Zippi find your next merchandising associate job
The highest-paying states for merchandising associates are Hawaii, New York, and Washington. The lowest average merchandising associate salary states are Georgia, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $42,374 | $20.37 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $36,514 | $17.55 |
| 3 | Michigan | $35,423 | $17.03 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $35,454 | $17.05 |
| 5 | Hawaii | $45,407 | $21.83 |
| 6 | Washington | $41,382 | $19.90 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $36,348 | $17.48 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $35,892 | $17.26 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $36,587 | $17.59 |
| 10 | Oregon | $39,786 | $19.13 |
| 11 | Vermont | $36,849 | $17.72 |
| 12 | California | $38,720 | $18.62 |
| 13 | Montana | $36,547 | $17.57 |
| 14 | Idaho | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| 15 | Maine | $33,677 | $16.19 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $35,844 | $17.23 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $35,253 | $16.95 |
| 18 | Ohio | $32,303 | $15.53 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $35,498 | $17.07 |
| 20 | Arizona | $34,078 | $16.38 |
| 21 | Missouri | $34,586 | $16.63 |
| 22 | Colorado | $34,939 | $16.80 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $32,344 | $15.55 |
| 24 | Illinois | $34,564 | $16.62 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $34,586 | $16.63 |
| 26 | Utah | $33,505 | $16.11 |
| 27 | Massachusetts | $35,235 | $16.94 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $40,065 | $19.26 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $34,205 | $16.44 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $31,391 | $15.09 |
| 31 | Alaska | $35,060 | $16.86 |
| 32 | Florida | $31,416 | $15.10 |
| 33 | Kentucky | $31,369 | $15.08 |
| 34 | Iowa | $32,549 | $15.65 |
| 35 | Alabama | $30,769 | $14.79 |
| 36 | Kansas | $32,413 | $15.58 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $30,445 | $14.64 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,676 | $15.71 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $31,372 | $15.08 |
| 40 | Delaware | $30,560 | $14.69 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $31,727 | $15.25 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,696 | $14.76 |
| 43 | Maryland | $32,336 | $15.55 |
| 44 | Virginia | $31,336 | $15.07 |
| 45 | New Mexico | $32,291 | $15.52 |
| 46 | West Virginia | $29,384 | $14.13 |
| 47 | Georgia | $30,520 | $14.67 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $30,452 | $14.64 |
| 49 | Texas | $30,650 | $14.74 |
| 50 | Indiana | $29,250 | $14.06 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $28,822 | $13.86 |
The highest-paying cities for merchandising associates are New York, NY, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $42,385 | $20.38 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $41,522 | $19.96 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| 4 | Beaverton, OR | $39,781 | $19.13 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $39,288 | $18.89 |
| 6 | Paramus, NJ | $35,938 | $17.28 |
| 7 | Muskegon, MI | $35,276 | $16.96 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $35,247 | $16.95 |
| 9 | Austin, MN | $35,129 | $16.89 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $34,916 | $16.79 |
| 11 | Omaha, NE | $34,643 | $16.66 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $34,626 | $16.65 |
| 13 | Salt Lake City, UT | $33,507 | $16.11 |
| 14 | Reno, NV | $33,402 | $16.06 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, NC | $32,539 | $15.64 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $32,399 | $15.58 |
| 17 | Columbus, OH | $32,145 | $15.45 |
| 18 | Alexandria, VA | $31,736 | $15.26 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $31,723 | $15.25 |
| 20 | El Paso, TX | $31,267 | $15.03 |
A merchandising associate's salary ranges from $26,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $42,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| Average | $33,201 | $2,767 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
| 10th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
The highest paying types of merchandising associates are merchandising execution associate, associate, and merchandising internship.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandising Internship | $34,770 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 58,634 |
| Merchandising Representative | $32,303 | $2,692 | $15.53 | 351,931 |
Top companies hiring merchandising associates now:
Merchandising associate salaries at Uline and Lucky Brand are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average merchandising associate salary at companies like Hinda Incentives and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uline | $40,646 | $19.54 |
| 2 | Lucky Brand | $37,238 | $17.90 |
| 3 | Hinda Incentives | $36,328 | $17.47 |
| 4 | Green Mountain Coffee Roasters | $36,040 | $17.33 |
| 5 | Southern States Cooperative | $35,869 | $17.24 |
| 6 | Altria | $35,730 | $17.18 |
| 7 | Meijer | $35,536 | $17.08 |
| 8 | Ralph Lauren | $34,682 | $16.67 |
| 9 | Wolverine World Wide | $34,614 | $16.64 |
| 10 | The Wine Company | $34,368 | $16.52 |
| 11 | Macy's | $34,334 | $16.51 |
| 12 | Total Wine & More | $34,100 | $16.39 |
| 13 | Gap Inc. | $34,062 | $16.38 |
| 14 | Columbia Sportswear | $34,057 | $16.37 |
| 15 | Mattel | $33,917 | $16.31 |
| 16 | Tyson Foods | $33,909 | $16.30 |
| 17 | PVH | $33,807 | $16.25 |
| 18 | Retail | $33,696 | $16.20 |
| 19 | Nike | $33,639 | $16.17 |
| 20 | Legends Hospitality | $33,634 | $16.17 |
The average merchandising associate salary has risen by $7,442 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average merchandising associate earned $25,759 annually, but today, they earn $33,201 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for merchandising associates over the last decade.
Compare merchandising associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare merchandising associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $33,200 | $15.96 | +6.8% |
| 2024 | $31,000 | $14.88 | +4.2% |
| 2023 | $29,700 | $14.26 | +4.1% |
| 2022 | $28,500 | $13.68 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $27,800 | $13.37 | +4.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattel | American Girl Tysons Corner Merchandise Handling Associate | McLean, VA | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | Seasonal Merchandising Associate | Colorado Springs, CO | 06/29/2025 | $30,908 |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | Merchandise Associate-Temporary | Omaha, NE | 06/29/2025 | $28,175 |
| Saks & Company | Associate, Store Merchandising | East Rutherford, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $38,985 |
| Saks & Company | Associate, Store Merchandising | Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $33,893 |
| Saks & Company | Associate, Store Merchandising | Greenwich, CT | 06/29/2025 | $38,985 |
| Saks & Company | Associate, Store Merchandising | Beverly Hills, CA | 06/29/2025 | $38,985 |
| Kohl's | Store Merchandising Associate | Perrysburg, OH | 06/28/2025 | $26,088 |
| Kohl's | Store Merchandising Associate | Lansing, MI | 06/28/2025 | $27,131 |
| Kohl's | Merchandising Associate | State College, PA | 06/28/2025 | $31,305 |
Search for merchandising associate jobs