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The differences between retail merchandisers and sales floor associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a retail merchandiser has an average salary of $28,678, which is higher than the $24,773 average annual salary of a sales floor associate.
The top three skills for a retail merchandiser include customer service, store management and POS. The most important skills for a sales floor associate are math, home health, and sales transactions.
| Retail Merchandiser | Sales Floor Associate | |
| Yearly salary | $28,678 | $24,773 |
| Hourly rate | $13.79 | $11.91 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 477,794 | 491,791 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A retail merchandiser is responsible for determining the accuracy of sales and analyzing market trends to ensure that the business can follow stock movements and adjust plan budgets as needed. Retail merchandisers' duties also include planning strategies that would provide satisfaction for the customers while meeting the company's objectives, and coordinating with the suppliers and distributors for timely deliveries and price negotiations. Retail merchandisers also assist customers, analyze sales performance, and monitor inventories regularly.
Salesfloor associates often work with retail establishments. They are either referred to as retail sales associates or retail associates. These associates greet customers as they arrive, assess their needs, and help them find the right products and services. Other responsibilities include operating cash registers, introducing customers to promotions and opportunities, and cross-selling products to increase sales. Also, they assist customers in getting their complaints resolved as well as with their returns and refunds. Job seekers must have excellent customer service skills, relevant retail experience, and a strong knowledge of selling techniques.
Retail merchandisers and sales floor associates have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Retail Merchandiser | Sales Floor Associate | |
| Average salary | $28,678 | $24,773 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $36,000 | Between $19,000 And $31,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Wayfair | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between a retail merchandiser and a sales floor associate in terms of educational background:
| Retail Merchandiser | Sales Floor Associate | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 35% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between retail merchandisers' and sales floor associates' demographics:
| Retail Merchandiser | Sales Floor Associate | |
| Average age | 41 | 41 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 34.1% Female, 65.9% | Male, 40.6% Female, 59.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 7.5% White, 57.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 7% | 7% |