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Assistant merchandise buyer salary

Average assistant merchandise buyer salary

$52,001

$25 hourly rate

Entry-level assistant merchandise buyer salary
$40,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Understanding the Assistant Merchandise Buyer Salary

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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Where can an Assistant Merchandise Buyer earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
71k
51k
31k
11k
Columbus, OH$54,248
Kissimmee, FL$40,587
Compare salary by company
Vs
87k
67k
47k
27k
7k
Gap Inc.$62,143
Aeropostale$36,756

Average assistant merchandise buyer salary by state

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.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for assistant merchandise buyers

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Michigan$53,939$25.93
2Pennsylvania$54,494$26.20
3Alaska$58,131$27.95
4Ohio$55,502$26.68
5Iowa$53,904$25.92
6New Hampshire$52,616$25.30
7Rhode Island$54,553$26.23
8Connecticut$55,354$26.61
9Delaware$55,984$26.92
10New York$53,849$25.89
11Illinois$54,516$26.21
12Utah$50,820$24.43
13Minnesota$51,721$24.87
14South Carolina$51,230$24.63
15Kansas$51,753$24.88
16Wyoming$49,211$23.66
17Nevada$49,354$23.73
18Maryland$52,214$25.10
19Vermont$51,525$24.77
20Missouri$49,970$24.02
21Nebraska$50,822$24.43
22California$51,766$24.89
23North Dakota$49,616$23.85
24Colorado$49,392$23.75
25Indiana$49,027$23.57
26District of Columbia$55,363$26.62
27North Carolina$49,218$23.66
28South Dakota$49,081$23.60
29Virginia$51,425$24.72
30Mississippi$47,607$22.89
31Washington$51,056$24.55
32Oregon$50,310$24.19
33Wisconsin$46,526$22.37
34Massachusetts$49,187$23.65
35Tennessee$46,275$22.25
36Arkansas$48,277$23.21
37Montana$49,654$23.87
38Idaho$49,166$23.64
39Maine$47,636$22.90
40Georgia$44,648$21.47
41Arizona$44,600$21.44
42New Jersey$46,499$22.36
43New Mexico$47,300$22.74
44West Virginia$43,995$21.15
45Alabama$46,253$22.24
46Texas$42,748$20.55
47Kentucky$42,238$20.31
48Oklahoma$44,746$21.51
49Hawaii$39,125$18.81
50Louisiana$43,159$20.75
51Florida$40,480$19.46

Highest paying cities for assistant merchandise buyers

The highest-paying cities for assistant merchandise buyers are San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, and Dallas, TX.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1San Francisco, CA$54,248$26.08
2New York, NY$53,965$25.94
3Dallas, TX$43,342$20.84
4Kissimmee, FL$40,587$19.51

Assistant merchandise buyer salary details

An assistant merchandise buyer's salary ranges from $40,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $66,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average assistant merchandise buyer salary graph
Average assistant merchandise buyer salary graph, trends, and summary

What is an assistant merchandise buyer's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly 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

Highest paying assistant merchandise buyer jobs

The highest paying types of assistant merchandise buyers are merchandise planner, store manager and buyer, and purveyor.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Buyer$54,049$4,504$25.9923,589
Retail Buyer$52,720$4,393$25.3574,254
Merchandising Internship$34,770$2,898$16.7258,634
Merchandise Coordinator$36,658$3,055$17.6223,637
Store Manager And Buyer$68,964$5,747$33.16154,677
Merchandise Planner$69,460$5,788$33.3932,301

Top companies hiring assistant merchandise buyers now:

  1. Eddie Bauer jobs (7)
  2. Gap Inc. jobs (15)
  3. Lucky Brand jobs (3)
  4. Ralph Lauren jobs (13)
  5. Abercrombie & Fitch Co jobs (5)

Which companies pay assistant merchandise buyers the most?

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.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1Gap Inc.$62,143$29.88
2Lucky Brand$59,917$28.81
3Sysco$53,398$25.67
4RANDA Solutions$52,622$25.30
5HPM$48,147$23.15
6Newegg$45,755$22.00
7The Walt Disney Company$45,577$21.91
8PVH$45,307$21.78
9HPM Building Supply$45,288$21.77
10ModCloth$44,759$21.52
11Aeropostale$36,756$17.67

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$53,000$52,600$52,200$51,800$51,400$51,000
MaleFemale

Assistant merchandise buyer salary trends

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.

Average assistant merchandise buyer salary over time

Compare assistant merchandise buyer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Assistant merchandise buyer salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly 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%

Recently added assistant merchandise buyer salaries

CompanyJobLocationDate addedSalary
Amazon.com, Inc.Assistant Buyer, Zappos MerchandisingNew York, NY06/20/2025$35,300
The GapAssistant Merchandiser, FastlanesSan Francisco, CA06/07/2025$67,900
Fam BrandsAssistant MerchandiserLos Angeles, CA05/26/2025$52,175
Mollie Stone's MarketsLead Merchandiser/Assistant BuyerMill Valley, CA05/21/2025$80,000
MSG Sports, LLCAssistant Merchandise BuyerNew York, NY05/16/2025$57,000
AmazonAssistant Buyer, Zappos MerchandisingNew York, NY04/03/2025$35,300
The GapAssistant Site MerchandiserSan Francisco, CA03/29/2025$67,900
SanmarAssistant MerchandiserIssaquah, WA03/26/2025$52,175
FabfitfunAssistant Digital MerchandiserLos Angeles, CA03/26/2025$48,001
Gap Inc.Assistant MerchandiserSan Francisco, CA03/09/2025$67,900

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