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The average salary for an Assistant Merchandise Buyer in the United States is approximately $52,001 per year, equating to about $25 per hour. This salary can fluctuate significantly based on various factors including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific retail sector. For example, cities with higher living costs, such as New York or San Francisco, tend to offer higher salaries, while smaller markets may provide lower compensation.
Additionally, experience plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while seasoned professionals can command higher wages. Employers also look for skills in trend analysis, negotiation, and inventory management, which can enhance earning potential. To maximize salary opportunities, aspiring buyers should consider focusing on industries such as fashion, electronics, or home goods, which are known for competitive compensation packages.
Moreover, understanding the average salary by state can help job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths. States like California and New York frequently appear on the list of highest-paying states for this role. By analyzing these trends, candidates can better position themselves in the job market.
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The average assistant merchandise buyer salary in Alaska, Delaware, and Ohio are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average assistant merchandise buyer salary states are West Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $53,939 | $25.93 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $54,494 | $26.20 |
| 3 | Alaska | $58,131 | $27.95 |
| 4 | Ohio | $55,502 | $26.68 |
| 5 | Iowa | $53,904 | $25.92 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $52,616 | $25.30 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $54,553 | $26.23 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $55,354 | $26.61 |
| 9 | Delaware | $55,984 | $26.92 |
| 10 | New York | $53,849 | $25.89 |
| 11 | Illinois | $54,516 | $26.21 |
| 12 | Utah | $50,820 | $24.43 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $51,721 | $24.87 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $51,230 | $24.63 |
| 15 | Kansas | $51,753 | $24.88 |
| 16 | Wyoming | $49,211 | $23.66 |
| 17 | Nevada | $49,354 | $23.73 |
| 18 | Maryland | $52,214 | $25.10 |
| 19 | Vermont | $51,525 | $24.77 |
| 20 | Missouri | $49,970 | $24.02 |
| 21 | Nebraska | $50,822 | $24.43 |
| 22 | California | $51,766 | $24.89 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $49,616 | $23.85 |
| 24 | Colorado | $49,392 | $23.75 |
| 25 | Indiana | $49,027 | $23.57 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $55,363 | $26.62 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $49,218 | $23.66 |
| 28 | South Dakota | $49,081 | $23.60 |
| 29 | Virginia | $51,425 | $24.72 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $47,607 | $22.89 |
| 31 | Washington | $51,056 | $24.55 |
| 32 | Oregon | $50,310 | $24.19 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $46,526 | $22.37 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $49,187 | $23.65 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $46,275 | $22.25 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $48,277 | $23.21 |
| 37 | Montana | $49,654 | $23.87 |
| 38 | Idaho | $49,166 | $23.64 |
| 39 | Maine | $47,636 | $22.90 |
| 40 | Georgia | $44,648 | $21.47 |
| 41 | Arizona | $44,600 | $21.44 |
| 42 | New Jersey | $46,499 | $22.36 |
| 43 | New Mexico | $47,300 | $22.74 |
| 44 | West Virginia | $43,995 | $21.15 |
| 45 | Alabama | $46,253 | $22.24 |
| 46 | Texas | $42,748 | $20.55 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $42,238 | $20.31 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $44,746 | $21.51 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $39,125 | $18.81 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $43,159 | $20.75 |
| 51 | Florida | $40,480 | $19.46 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant merchandise buyers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Dallas, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $54,248 | $26.08 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $53,965 | $25.94 |
| 3 | Dallas, TX | $43,342 | $20.84 |
| 4 | Kissimmee, FL | $40,587 | $19.51 |
An assistant merchandise buyer's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 75th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| Average | $52,001 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
The highest paying types of assistant merchandise buyers are merchandise planner, store manager and buyer, and purveyor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buyer | $54,049 | $4,504 | $25.99 | 23,589 |
| Retail Buyer | $52,720 | $4,393 | $25.35 | 74,254 |
| Merchandising Internship | $34,770 | $2,898 | $16.72 | 58,634 |
| Merchandise Coordinator | $36,658 | $3,055 | $17.62 | 23,637 |
| Store Manager And Buyer | $68,964 | $5,747 | $33.16 | 154,677 |
| Merchandise Planner | $69,460 | $5,788 | $33.39 | 32,301 |
Top companies hiring assistant merchandise buyers now:
Assistant merchandise buyer salaries at Gap Inc. and Lucky Brand are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant merchandise buyer salary at companies like Sysco and RANDA Solutions are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gap Inc. | $62,143 | $29.88 |
| 2 | Lucky Brand | $59,917 | $28.81 |
| 3 | Sysco | $53,398 | $25.67 |
| 4 | RANDA Solutions | $52,622 | $25.30 |
| 5 | HPM | $48,147 | $23.15 |
| 6 | Newegg | $45,755 | $22.00 |
| 7 | The Walt Disney Company | $45,577 | $21.91 |
| 8 | PVH | $45,307 | $21.78 |
| 9 | HPM Building Supply | $45,288 | $21.77 |
| 10 | ModCloth | $44,759 | $21.52 |
| 11 | Aeropostale | $36,756 | $17.67 |
The average assistant merchandise buyer salary has risen by $7,043 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant merchandise buyer earned $44,958 annually, but today, they earn $52,001 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for assistant merchandise buyers over the last decade.
Compare assistant merchandise buyer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant merchandise buyer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,000 | $25.00 | +3.8% |
| 2024 | $50,000 | $24.05 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $48,800 | $23.49 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $48,300 | $23.23 | +1.7% |
| 2021 | $47,500 | $22.83 | +0.7% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Assistant Buyer, Zappos Merchandising | New York, NY | 06/20/2025 | $35,300 |
| The Gap | Assistant Merchandiser, Fastlanes | San Francisco, CA | 06/07/2025 | $67,900 |
| Fam Brands | Assistant Merchandiser | Los Angeles, CA | 05/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Mollie Stone's Markets | Lead Merchandiser/Assistant Buyer | Mill Valley, CA | 05/21/2025 | $80,000 |
| MSG Sports, LLC | Assistant Merchandise Buyer | New York, NY | 05/16/2025 | $57,000 |
| Amazon | Assistant Buyer, Zappos Merchandising | New York, NY | 04/03/2025 | $35,300 |
| The Gap | Assistant Site Merchandiser | San Francisco, CA | 03/29/2025 | $67,900 |
| Sanmar | Assistant Merchandiser | Issaquah, WA | 03/26/2025 | $52,175 |
| Fabfitfun | Assistant Digital Merchandiser | Los Angeles, CA | 03/26/2025 | $48,001 |
| Gap Inc. | Assistant Merchandiser | San Francisco, CA | 03/09/2025 | $67,900 |
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