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The differences between merchandising directors and heads of marketing can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 8-10 years to become both a merchandising director and a head of marketing. Additionally, a merchandising director has an average salary of $145,282, which is higher than the $137,829 average annual salary of a head of marketing.
The top three skills for a merchandising director include apparel, gross margin and direct reports. The most important skills for a head of marketing are digital marketing, integrated marketing, and marketing campaigns.
| Merchandising Director | Head Of Marketing | |
| Yearly salary | $145,282 | $137,829 |
| Hourly rate | $69.85 | $66.26 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 10% |
| Number of jobs | 81,434 | 92,557 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 10 | 10 |
A merchandising director is in charge of spearheading and streamlining merchandising strategies, including promotion and branding. Using their expertise and experience, they conceptualize plans with fellow directors and managers, perform extensive research and analysis, gather and analyze data, set goals and guidelines, establish budgets and schedules, and build positive relationships with external business partners. Moreover, as a merchandising director, they must lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
The head of marketing primarily oversees all marketing departments and operations, ensuring to convey the message of the brand. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies and business plans, preparing and allocating the budget for all departments, identifying new opportunities and assets, and analyzing consumers' needs. There are also instances when the head of marketing has to produce progress reports and presentations, monitor the competition, spearhead the hiring activities, and manage schedules. Furthermore, one must lead and encourage staff to meet all goals and deadlines in the joint effort to improve brand awareness and strengthen the client base.
Merchandising directors and heads of marketing have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandising Director | Head Of Marketing | |
| Average salary | $145,282 | $137,829 |
| Salary range | Between $103,000 And $203,000 | Between $93,000 And $203,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Washington |
| Best paying company | Coty | Meta |
| Best paying industry | - | Media |
There are a few differences between a merchandising director and a head of marketing in terms of educational background:
| Merchandising Director | Head Of Marketing | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | University of Georgia | University of Georgia |
Here are the differences between merchandising directors' and heads of marketing' demographics:
| Merchandising Director | Head Of Marketing | |
| Average age | 39 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 53.9% Female, 46.1% | Male, 56.0% Female, 44.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |