How to hire a product merchandiser

How to hire a product merchandiser, step by step

Here's a step-by-step product merchandiser hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a product merchandiser job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new product merchandiser
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a product merchandiser do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The product merchandiser hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A product merchandiser's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, product merchandisers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents product merchandiser salaries for various positions.

   Type of Product Merchandiser	Description	Hourly rate
   Product Merchandiser	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$11-18
   Stower	A stower is responsible for scanning a product and appropriately placing it to the right shelf for customer's consumption. Duties of a stower include inspecting the item for any defects and escalating damaged items to the supervisor ensuring adequately labeled products... Show more	$10-16
   Night Stocker	A night stocker is responsible for organizing store shelves and stocking merchandise to the appropriate areas. Night stockers ensure that the items are accurately categorized, ensuring that products are free of any damage... Show more	$11-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PET
   • Brand Awareness
   • Product Line
   • Retail Store
   • Pallets
   • Cleanliness
   • Ladders
   • Product Development
   • Customer Service
   • Store Merchandise
   • Sales Floor
   • Product Displays
   • Store Shelves
   • Store Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Implement plan-o-grams, point of purchase material and achieve on shelf product merchandising objectives.
   • Diagnose production problem and work with suppliers to present alternatives to both parties to achieve KPI (key performance indicator).
   • Help to sell new products, install POS material and build displays.
   • Assist the stores with products and displays, checking out of codes and help with plan-o-grams.
   • Provide national pet supply stores with merchandizing support, including inventory, product resets, distributing product information, magazine stock management
   • Organize and conduct Macys luggage seminars and bridal events.

   More product merchandiser duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your product merchandiser job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A product merchandiser can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, product merchandisers' average salary in florida is 38% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level product merchandisers 38% less than senior-level product merchandisers.
   • Certifications. A product merchandiser with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a product merchandiser's salary.

   Average product merchandiser salary

   $14.94hourly

   $31,071 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level product merchandiser salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average product merchandiser salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Oregon	$38,091	$18
   2	Washington	$36,013	$17
   3	Illinois	$34,447	$17
   4	Wisconsin	$33,357	$16
   5	California	$33,349	$16
   6	Arizona	$30,819	$15
   7	Nebraska	$30,718	$15
   8	North Dakota	$30,114	$14
   9	Colorado	$30,042	$14
   10	Texas	$29,937	$14
   11	Montana	$29,592	$14
   12	Ohio	$28,739	$14
   13	Missouri	$28,478	$14
   14	South Dakota	$28,403	$14
   15	Massachusetts	$27,004	$13
   16	North Carolina	$26,842	$13
   17	Idaho	$26,807	$13
   18	New Mexico	$26,378	$13
   19	Louisiana	$23,716	$11

   Average product merchandiser salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Amazon	$33,581	$16.14	116
   2	Nike	$32,787	$15.76	84
   3	DAVACO	$31,156	$14.98
   4	Hayden Beverage	$30,704	$14.76
   5	Admiral Beverage	$29,756	$14.31	32
   6	Scheels	$29,196	$14.04	25
   7	General Pet Supply	$29,064	$13.97

4. Writing a product merchandiser job description

   A good product merchandiser job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a product merchandiser job description:

   Product merchandiser job description example

   · Min. 3 years of experience with the Salesforce Commerce Cloud Business Manager (DemandWare) platform or Similar Platforms in an eCommerce Environment. Plus if you know Einstein Recommender.

   · Proficiency in front-end website development utilizing HTML, CSS and comfortable editing code for content.

   · Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Marketing, Communications or related.

   · Expertise in digital communications including web, email, social media, mobile – and more.

   Work Environment
   

   Local or West Coast Candidates Only. Work is performed within an office environment, with standard office equipment available.

   Position requires up to 10% of travel both domestically and internationally. Passport is required for this position.

   The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time; use hands to finger, handle, or feel the computer; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
   

   Disclaimer The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

   Company DescriptionCanyon is the world’s leading manufacturer of road, mountain, triathlon, urban and fitness bikes. Our direct to consumer approach and desire to inspire riders to ride sets us apart from our competitors in the cycling world. Constantly exploring new paths enables us to stay ahead of the game and drives us forwards as a pioneer in our industry. Now more than ever, we are on the lookout for talented individuals who are prepared help us shape the future of cycling.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right product merchandiser for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with product merchandisers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit product merchandisers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your product merchandiser job on Zippia to find and recruit product merchandiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit product merchandisers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new product merchandiser

   Once you've selected the best product merchandiser candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new product merchandiser. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a product merchandiser?