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Retail sales merchandiser vs display associate

The differences between retail sales merchandisers and display associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a display associate has an average salary of $61,513, which is higher than the $39,721 average annual salary of a retail sales merchandiser.

The top three skills for a retail sales merchandiser include customer service, POS and working independently. The most important skills for a display associate are customer service, sales floor, and store management.

Retail sales merchandiser vs display associate overview

Retail Sales MerchandiserDisplay Associate
Yearly salary$39,721$61,513
Hourly rate$19.10$29.57
Growth rate4%-
Number of jobs155,213195
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Average age4040
Years of experience--

What does a retail sales merchandiser do?

Retail sales merchandisers are employees who are responsible for promoting and selling goods or services to customers for a retail store. These merchandisers are required to maintain a proper level of stock while ensuring that merchandise is displayed appropriately with proper signage. They must execute special promotional campaigns of their products or services that are created to boost their sales volume. Retail store merchandisers must also resolve issues that may arise after internal audits while training employees to be aware of their products so that they can recommend them to customers.

What does a display associate do?

A display associate is primarily in charge of managing product displays in an establishment, often working under the supervision and guidelines of a coordinator or manager. Their responsibilities usually include arranging products in display areas, removing lesser quality items from shelves, checking the expiration date of perishable goods, monitoring and maintaining inventory records, putting product prices and other necessary information, and keeping the sales floor clean. Moreover, in retail stores, a display associate may also assist clients by answering inquiries, helping them locate items, and recommending products.

Retail sales merchandiser vs display associate salary

Retail sales merchandisers and display associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

Retail Sales MerchandiserDisplay Associate
Average salary$39,721$61,513
Salary rangeBetween $19,000 And $79,000Between $29,000 And $130,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between retail sales merchandiser and display associate education

There are a few differences between a retail sales merchandiser and a display associate in terms of educational background:

Retail Sales MerchandiserDisplay Associate
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 54%Bachelor's Degree, 57%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Retail sales merchandiser vs display associate demographics

Here are the differences between retail sales merchandisers' and display associates' demographics:

Retail Sales MerchandiserDisplay Associate
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 42.4% Female, 57.6%Male, 41.1% Female, 58.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage17%17%

Differences between retail sales merchandiser and display associate duties and responsibilities

Retail sales merchandiser example responsibilities.

  • Work directly with local and national retailers to negotiate sales, places orders, and manage deliveries of wine and spirits.
  • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
  • Maintain cleanliness of backrooms for inventory control.
  • Place IRC s on product.
  • Work on company tablet answering queries from the clients Acosta represents.
  • Team with Wal-Mart personnel to provide retail support for Acosta's client companies and products.
  • Show more

Display associate example responsibilities.

  • Coordinate material and equipment logistics for cross country multi-city marketing events.
  • Coordinate material and equipment logistics for cross country multi-city marketing events.

Retail sales merchandiser vs display associate skills

Common retail sales merchandiser skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • POS, 18%
  • Working Independently, 17%
  • Retail Sales, 10%
  • Expense Reports, 8%
  • Client Products, 6%
Common display associate skills
  • Customer Service, 40%
  • Sales Floor, 22%
  • Store Management, 12%
  • Display Merchandise, 10%
  • Window Displays, 8%
  • Store Displays, 8%

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