Merchant demographics and statistics in the US
Merchant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates merchant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our merchant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about merchants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 6,120 merchants currently employed in the United States.
- 57.9% of all merchants are women, while 42.1% are men.
- The average merchant age is 40 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of merchants is White (55.1%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (23.3%), Black or African American (8.5%) and Asian (7.4%).
- Merchants are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- The finance industry is the highest-paying for merchants.
- 7% of all merchants are LGBT.
On this page
Merchant demographics by:
Merchant gender statistics
57.9% of merchants are women and 42.1% of merchants are men.
- Female, 57.9%
- Male, 42.1%
Merchant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 57.9% |
| Male | 42.1% |
Merchant gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$79,942
Female income
$74,034
Merchant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in merchant positions over time. Currently, 57.9% of merchants are female.
Merchant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 39.05% | 60.95% |
| 2011 | 38.74% | 61.26% |
| 2012 | 39.43% | 60.57% |
| 2013 | 39.44% | 60.56% |
| 2014 | 38.54% | 61.46% |
| 2015 | 39.40% | 60.60% |
| 2016 | 39.98% | 60.02% |
| 2017 | 40.28% | 59.72% |
| 2018 | 40.82% | 59.18% |
| 2019 | 39.96% | 60.04% |
| 2020 | 41.34% | 58.66% |
| 2021 | 42.15% | 57.85% |
Merchant related jobs gender ratio
We compared merchants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, parts counterman and lumber associate have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| BRA Specialist | 6% | 94% |
| Clinique Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| Beauty Consultant | 6% | 94% |
| Merchant | 42% | 58% |
| Cart Associate | 94% | 6% |
| Lumber Associate | 95% | 5% |
| Parts Counterman | 96% | 4% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Merchant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among merchants is White, which makes up 55.1% of all merchants. Comparatively, 23.3% of merchants are Hispanic or Latino and 8.5% of merchants are Black or African American.
- White, 55.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 23.3%
- Black or African American, 8.5%
- Asian, 7.4%
- Unknown, 5.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
Merchant race
| Merchant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 55.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 23.3% |
| Black or African American | 8.5% |
| Asian | 7.4% |
| Unknown | 5.2% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.5% |
Merchant race and ethnicity over time
See how merchant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Merchant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.31% | 8.89% | 6.11% | 18.89% |
| 2011 | 61.54% | 9.91% | 6.28% | 19.57% |
| 2012 | 61.25% | 9.42% | 6.43% | 20.03% |
| 2013 | 60.25% | 9.94% | 6.49% | 20.38% |
| 2014 | 60.21% | 9.54% | 6.92% | 20.48% |
| 2015 | 59.67% | 9.59% | 6.69% | 21.11% |
| 2016 | 59.47% | 9.25% | 6.68% | 21.41% |
| 2017 | 58.99% | 8.82% | 7.11% | 21.74% |
| 2018 | 59.10% | 8.57% | 6.79% | 22.24% |
| 2019 | 59.07% | 8.53% | 6.86% | 22.12% |
| 2020 | 56.57% | 8.52% | 7.23% | 22.52% |
| 2021 | 55.08% | 8.50% | 7.40% | 23.31% |
Merchant wage gap by race
According to our data, white merchants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown merchants have the lowest average salary at $78,342.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $78,342 |
| White | $81,431 |
| Black or African American | $78,603 |
| Asian | $80,695 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $80,685 |
Average merchant age
See how the average age of merchants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Merchant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 32.5 | 38 |
| Unknown | 37 | 31.5 |
| Asian | 40 | 47 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 30 | 31 |
| White | 43 | 43 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 36.5 | 39 |
Merchant age breakdown
The average age of merchants is 40+ years years old, representing 49% of the merchant population.
Merchant age breakdown
| Merchant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 49% |
| 30-40 years | 18% |
| 20-30 years | 28% |
Merchant educational attainment
The most common degree for merchants is bachelor's degree, with 57% of merchants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 17% and associate degree degree at 16%.
- Bachelor's, 57%
- Associate, 17%
- High School Diploma, 16%
- Master's, 5%
- Other Degrees, 5%
Merchants by degree level
| Merchant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 57% |
| Associate | 17% |
| High School Diploma | 16% |
| Master's | 5% |
| Other Degrees | 5% |
Merchant jobs you might like
Merchant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, merchants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $89,217 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, merchants earn a median annual income of $88,095 compared to $76,761 for merchants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $89,217 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $73,874 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $88,095 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $76,761 |
Merchant employment statistics
Most merchants work for a private in the retail industry.
Company size where merchants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where merchants work.
Merchant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 9% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 16% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 40% |
Merchant jobs by company type
Employees with the merchant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most merchants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Merchant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 40% |
| Private | 58% |
Merchant jobs by industry
The most common industries for merchants are retail, finance and manufacturing.
Merchant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Retail | 40% |
| Fortune 500 | 18% |
| Finance | 11% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Professional | 6% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Media | 2% |
| Start-up | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 2% |
| Hospitality | 2% |
| Technology | 2% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Health Care | 1% |
| Construction | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Merchant turnover and employment statistics
Merchant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for merchants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Merchant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Merchant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 11.74% |
| 2011 | 10.94% |
| 2012 | 9.82% |
| 2013 | 8.89% |
| 2014 | 7.55% |
| 2015 | 7.02% |
| 2016 | 6.27% |
| 2017 | 6.04% |
| 2018 | 5.79% |
| 2019 | 5.48% |
| 2020 | 8.30% |
| 2021 | 8.88% |
Average merchant tenure
The average merchant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 4,482 merchants resumes in Zippia's database.
Merchant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 21% |
| 1-2 years | 42% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Merchant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of merchants that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Service Clerk | 3.66% | 72,429 |
| Parts Counterman | 3.76% | 23,083 |
| Cashier Operator | 5.05% | 153,569 |
| Merchant | 7.10% | - |
Similar merchant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Service Clerk | 3.66% | 72,429 |
| Parts Counterman | 3.76% | 23,083 |
| Cashier Operator | 5.05% | 153,569 |
Foreign languages spoken by merchants
The most common foreign language among merchants is Spanish at 53.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 9.4% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 6.0%.
- Spanish, 53.2%
- French, 9.4%
- Chinese, 6.0%
- Mandarin, 4.7%
- Italian, 3.9%
- Other, 22.8%
Merchant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 53.2% |
| French | 9.4% |
| Chinese | 6.0% |
| Mandarin | 4.7% |
| Italian | 3.9% |
| Other | 22.8% |
