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Merchandise buyer salary
Average merchandise buyer salary
$49,264
Understanding the Merchandise Buyer Salary
The average salary for a Merchandise Buyer is approximately $49,264 annually, translating to about $24 per hour. This role is vital in retail, as buyers influence product selection and inventory management. Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location, level of experience, and specific industries. For example, those working in high-demand markets or with extensive experience often earn more.
Salary by State
Merchandise buyers in states like California and New York typically enjoy higher salaries compared to the national average. Understanding regional salary variations can help professionals negotiate better pay. Additionally, buyers within industries such as e-commerce often command higher compensation due to the fast-paced nature of online retail.
Career Opportunities
There are many career paths for merchandise buyers, including positions in various sectors like fashion, electronics, and home goods. Exploring opportunities in these fields can provide insights into potential earnings and career advancement. With the retail landscape evolving, the demand for skilled merchandise buyers continues to grow.
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Where can a Merchandise Buyer earn more?
Merchandise buyer salary estimates from across the web
Average merchandise buyer salary by state
The average merchandise buyer salary in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average merchandise buyer salary states are Nevada, Arizona, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for merchandise buyers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $55,137 | $26.51 |
| 2 | Michigan | $53,366 | $25.66 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $56,417 | $27.12 |
| 4 | Ohio | $53,366 | $25.66 |
| 5 | West Virginia | $53,345 | $25.65 |
| 6 | Kansas | $53,582 | $25.76 |
| 7 | Wisconsin | $51,291 | $24.66 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $51,838 | $24.92 |
| 9 | Kentucky | $49,861 | $23.97 |
| 10 | Iowa | $47,698 | $22.93 |
| 11 | Missouri | $49,715 | $23.90 |
| 12 | Maryland | $51,891 | $24.95 |
| 13 | Virginia | $53,733 | $25.83 |
| 14 | Indiana | $48,903 | $23.51 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $48,376 | $23.26 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $49,957 | $24.02 |
| 17 | South Carolina | $48,287 | $23.21 |
| 18 | New York | $49,024 | $23.57 |
| 19 | Washington | $52,300 | $25.14 |
| 20 | Delaware | $52,422 | $25.20 |
| 21 | New Hampshire | $47,331 | $22.76 |
| 22 | Montana | $51,208 | $24.62 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $50,582 | $24.32 |
| 24 | Alaska | $49,394 | $23.75 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $46,036 | $22.13 |
| 26 | Wyoming | $46,567 | $22.39 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $48,137 | $23.14 |
| 28 | Rhode Island | $48,261 | $23.20 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $45,013 | $21.64 |
| 30 | Vermont | $48,038 | $23.10 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $53,095 | $25.53 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $46,232 | $22.23 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $46,949 | $22.57 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| 35 | Georgia | $44,035 | $21.17 |
| 36 | Nevada | $41,991 | $20.19 |
| 37 | California | $46,081 | $22.15 |
| 38 | Maine | $45,759 | $22.00 |
| 39 | Alabama | $44,643 | $21.46 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $44,691 | $21.49 |
| 41 | Illinois | $42,358 | $20.36 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $42,311 | $20.34 |
| 43 | Colorado | $45,408 | $21.83 |
| 44 | Texas | $41,807 | $20.10 |
| 45 | Utah | $37,819 | $18.18 |
| 46 | Oregon | $43,038 | $20.69 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $42,289 | $20.33 |
| 48 | Idaho | $42,262 | $20.32 |
| 49 | Florida | $40,543 | $19.49 |
| 50 | Hawaii | $37,226 | $17.90 |
| 51 | Arizona | $41,818 | $20.10 |
Highest paying cities for merchandise buyers
The highest-paying cities for merchandise buyers are Fairview, NJ, Plymouth, MI, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairview, NJ | $56,171 | $27.01 |
| 2 | Plymouth, MI | $53,377 | $25.66 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $53,116 | $25.54 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $51,551 | $24.78 |
| 5 | Appleton, WI | $51,434 | $24.73 |
| 6 | Eau Claire, WI | $51,014 | $24.53 |
| 7 | Hatfield, MA | $50,892 | $24.47 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $50,445 | $24.25 |
| 9 | Cambridge, MA | $50,410 | $24.24 |
| 10 | New Haven, CT | $50,080 | $24.08 |
| 11 | Elkhart, IN | $49,542 | $23.82 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $49,207 | $23.66 |
| 13 | Bowling Green, KY | $49,144 | $23.63 |
| 14 | Nebo, KY | $49,097 | $23.60 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,360 | $23.25 |
| 16 | Wilmington, NC | $48,004 | $23.08 |
| 17 | Northwest, NC | $47,958 | $23.06 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $47,345 | $22.76 |
| 19 | Rochester, NY | $47,291 | $22.74 |
| 20 | Glens Falls, NY | $46,113 | $22.17 |
Merchandise buyer salary details
A merchandise buyer's salary ranges from $37,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $64,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a merchandise buyer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 75th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| Average | $49,264 | $4,105 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
Highest paying merchandise buyer jobs
The highest paying types of merchandise buyers are livestock commission agent, grain buyer, and grain merchandiser.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain Elevator Worker | $31,199 | $2,600 | $15.00 | 23,036 |
| Buyer | $54,049 | $4,504 | $25.99 | 23,589 |
| Produce Buyer | $55,778 | $4,648 | $26.82 | 17,664 |
| Merchandise Coordinator | $36,658 | $3,055 | $17.62 | 23,637 |
Top companies hiring merchandise buyers now:
Which companies pay merchandise buyers the most?
Merchandise buyer salaries at Bob's Discount Furniture and Sysco are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average merchandise buyer salary at companies like Glens Falls Hospital and Seward Community Co-op are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob's Discount Furniture | $52,494 | $25.24 |
| 2 | Sysco | $45,326 | $21.79 |
| 3 | Glens Falls Hospital | $41,525 | $19.96 |
| 4 | Seward Community Co-op | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| 5 | Menards | $41,376 | $19.89 |
| 6 | Helm | $41,089 | $19.75 |
| 7 | PLUM | $40,764 | $19.60 |
| 8 | San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance | $39,227 | $18.86 |
| 9 | Belk | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| 10 | Uptown Cheapskate | $36,801 | $17.69 |
| 11 | C&S Wholesale Grocers | $36,787 | $17.69 |
| 12 | Camping World | $36,304 | $17.45 |
| 13 | Citi Trends | $35,217 | $16.93 |
| 14 | Barnes & Noble | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 15 | Reeds Jewelers | $33,209 | $15.97 |
| 16 | Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium | $33,170 | $15.95 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Merchandise Buyer salary by industry
The average merchandise buyer salary varies across industries:
- The average merchandise buyer salary in the manufacturing industry is $43,208, the highest of any industry.
- The average merchandise buyer salary in the finance industry is $42,328.
- Merchandise buyers in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $39,850, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for merchandise buyers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $43,208 | $20.77 |
| 2 | Start-up | $42,328 | $20.35 |
| 3 | Retail | $41,309 | $19.86 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $39,850 | $19.16 |
High paying merchandise buyer jobs
Merchandise buyer salary trends
The average merchandise buyer salary has risen by $6,247 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average merchandise buyer earned $43,017 annually, but today, they earn $49,264 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for merchandise buyers over the last decade.
Compare merchandise buyer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average merchandise buyer salary over time
Compare merchandise buyer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Merchandise buyer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $49,300 | $23.68 | +3.8% |
| 2025 | $47,400 | $22.78 | +2.3% |
| 2024 | $46,300 | $22.25 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $45,800 | $22.01 | +1.7% |
| 2022 | $45,000 | $21.63 | +3.7% |
Recently added merchandise buyer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Fine Arts | Merchandise Buyer: Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, & Logo Merchandise | Boston, MA | 04/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| Smithsonian Enterprises | Merchandise Re-Buyer, Ecommerce | Washington, DC | 04/26/2025 | $65,000 |
| Dexian | Buyer/Merchandiser | Beaverton, OR | 04/24/2025 | $91,348 |
| Museum of Fine Arts | Merchandise Buyer: Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, & Logo Merchandise | Boston, MA | 03/28/2025 | $65,000 |
| University of Minnesota | Bookstore Merchandise Buyer | Minneapolis, MN | 03/27/2025 | $54,262 |
| Petco Animal Supplies Inc. | Buyer, Merchandise | San Diego, CA | 03/11/2025 | $75,100 |
| Museum of Fine Arts | Merchandise Buyer: Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, & Logo Merchandise | Boston, MA | 02/18/2025 | $65,000 |
| Museum of Fine Arts Boston | Merchandise Buyer: Jewelry, Fashion Textiles, & Logo Merchandise | Boston, MA | 02/17/2025 | $65,000 |
| Alohagas | Merchandise Buyer | Hawaii | 02/16/2025 | $65,000 |
| Sunoco LP | Merchandise Buyer | Urban Honolulu, HI | 01/31/2025 | $65,000 |
Merchandise buyer salary FAQs
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