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What is a merchandising specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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How are we are able to find every product available in the market worth buying? From creative advertisement to fascinating displays in the store, this whole trap is set by merchandising specialists. They are the ones who look after every promotional activity of new and existing products. Merchandising Specialists based on detailed market research by launching marketing campaigns, analyzing pricing, and formulating selling strategies.

No worries, as you can become a Merchandising Specialist with high school graduation, including a high level of creativity, public dealing, and communication skills. Since this field requires loads of research work, one has to compete with experienced individuals. It would be a great idea if you opted for this career after graduating from college to reduce competition. More than 40% of professionals have a Bachelor's degree, and the remaining have years of experience.

Being a Merchandising Specialist, you are the first to know all about products starting from pricing to marketing. In addition to access to this knowledge, you can earn around $18 per hour on average.

ScoreMerchandising SpecialistUS Average
Salary
2.6

Avg. Salary $32,920

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
5.5

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
7.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.49%

Asian 5.34%

Black or African American 8.50%

Hispanic or Latino 13.83%

Unknown 5.10%

White 66.75%

Gender

female 56.46%

male 43.54%

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
5.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.0

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Merchandising Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a merchandising specialist

  1. Explore merchandising specialist education requirements

    Most common merchandising specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.3 %

    Associate

    20.2 %

    High School Diploma

    18.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific merchandising specialist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service27.63%
    Sales Floor16.46%
    Cash Handling6.59%
    Cleanliness5.51%
    Customer Satisfaction5.09%
  3. Complete relevant merchandising specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New merchandising specialists 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 specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real merchandising specialist resumes.
  4. Gain additional merchandising specialist certifications

    Merchandising specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific merchandising specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for merchandising specialists include Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) and Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research merchandising specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Work within OPEX budget to achieve company goals.
    • Manage the products for service companies in Kroger stores, PoG, doing resets.
    • Manage the distribution of POS items as assigned to the region to create brand affinity.
    • Verify and manage data for the weekly store ads which includes UPC verification, item description and ad pricing.
  6. Prepare your merchandising specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your merchandising specialist 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 specialist 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 Specialist Resume templates

    Build a professional Merchandising Specialist 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 Specialist resume.
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  7. Apply for merchandising specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a merchandising specialist 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 Specialist Job

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Average merchandising specialist salary

The average Merchandising Specialist salary in the United States is $32,920 per year or $16 per hour. Merchandising specialist salaries range between $22,000 and $47,000 per year.

Average Merchandising Specialist Salary
$32,920 Yearly
$15.83 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do merchandising specialists rate their job?

5/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Merchandising Specialist 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 Nov 2022
Cons

Finding enough opportunities in my local area to sustain 32 hours.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022
Cons

Pay is usually not that good Most of the management of these companies is a complete joke


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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.

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