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The differences between merchandising representatives and associate sales representatives can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a merchandising representative and an associate sales representative. Additionally, an associate sales representative has an average salary of $51,007, which is higher than the $32,303 average annual salary of a merchandising representative.
The top three skills for a merchandising representative include little supervision, store management and plan-o-grams. The most important skills for an associate sales representative are work ethic, patients, and product knowledge.
| Merchandising Representative | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Yearly salary | $32,303 | $51,007 |
| Hourly rate | $15.53 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 351,931 | 333,049 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Merchandising representatives are professionals who are responsible for providing point-of-purchase and shelf management services to produce sales. These representatives are required to plan and develop merchandising strategies so that they can balance the expectations of customers and the organization's objectives. They must maintain store shelves and display products appropriately so that they can maximize the interest of customers and sales levels. Merchandising representatives must also analyze sales figures, the reactions of customers, and market trends to anticipate their product needs and plan product stock.
The duties of an associate sales representative depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Their responsibilities typically revolve around reaching out to clients through calls or door-to-door visits, offering products and services, collecting payments, addressing issues and concerns, and performing corrective measures when necessary. An associate sales representative often has a quota and deadline to reach; therefore, it is essential to be sales driven and goal-oriented. Furthermore, one must adhere to the policies and regulations of the company.
Merchandising representatives and associate sales representatives have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Merchandising Representative | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average salary | $32,303 | $51,007 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $40,000 | Between $37,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Maine | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | ECMD | Verint |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a merchandising representative and an associate sales representative in terms of educational background:
| Merchandising Representative | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred | SUNY College of Technology at Alfred |
Here are the differences between merchandising representatives' and associate sales representatives' demographics:
| Merchandising Representative | Associate Sales Representative | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 47.2% Female, 52.8% | Male, 50.8% Female, 49.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.1% White, 73.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 5.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 6% |