Store merchandiser vs sales/stock associate

The differences between store merchandisers and sales/stock associates can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a store merchandiser has an average salary of $37,143, which is higher than the $30,494 average annual salary of a sales/stock associate.

The top three skills for a store merchandiser include in-store, customer satisfaction and retail store. The most important skills for a sales/stock associate are kids, store locations, and store shelves.

Store merchandiser vs sales/stock associate overview

	Store Merchandiser	Sales/Stock Associate
Yearly salary	$37,143	$30,494
Hourly rate	$17.86	$14.66
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	149,850	401,752
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	High School Diploma, 46%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	-	-

What does a store merchandiser do?

A store merchandiser must maximize profitability. They are responsible for studying sales trends and controlling the stock level in their store. They study their store's target demographics. They make financial presentations for their store's manager. If any production problem arises, they must quickly solve it. They negotiate stock quantities, and they supervise and train junior staff.

What does a sales/stock associate do?

Sales/stock associates or stock clerks receive shipments or goods to a store and prepare them for marketing. Their job involves checking the accuracy of the shipment, stocking items in the warehouse, and maintaining the store inventory. They are the ones who locate the misplaced stocks or relocate them anywhere. Among their minor duties are shelve arrangement, facility cleanup, and correspondence handling. Also, they help assist the unloading of the shipments to factor, warehouse, or store.

Store merchandiser vs sales/stock associate salary

Store merchandisers and sales/stock associates have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Store Merchandiser	Sales/Stock Associate
Average salary	$37,143	$30,494
Salary range	Between $24,000 And $55,000	Between $24,000 And $38,000
Highest paying City	Reno, NV	-
Highest paying state	Oregon	-
Best paying company	The Coca-Cola Company	-
Best paying industry	Retail	-

Differences between store merchandiser and sales/stock associate education

There are a few differences between a store merchandiser and a sales/stock associate in terms of educational background:

	Store Merchandiser	Sales/Stock Associate
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	High School Diploma, 46%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Store merchandiser vs sales/stock associate demographics

Here are the differences between store merchandisers' and sales/stock associates' demographics:

	Store Merchandiser	Sales/Stock Associate
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 54.6% Female, 45.4%	Male, 65.8% Female, 34.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 7.1% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 7.0% White, 53.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between store merchandiser and sales/stock associate duties and responsibilities

Store merchandiser example responsibilities.

Manage entire pet food recycling facility converting 9,000 tons per year from pet food to swine and poultry feed.
Maintain database of stores, displays, soda units and pallets with PeopleSoft
Service area stores with beverage product, unload pallets, distribute merchandise, remove expire merchandise.
Ring up customers using a standard POS system and promote the purchase of the store credit card to all shoppers.
Communicate internally to ASM management and externally with customers regarding project status and completion.
Organize and conduct Macys luggage seminars and bridal events.

Sales/stock associate example responsibilities.

Supervise women's department, manage jewelry department, assist customers on finalizing purchases
Stock shelves with books using RF technology.
Scan inventory into system using a RF scanner.
Can operate a POS system cash register and count the money to ensure the correct amount.
Used in-house POS to ring up purchases in-store and by phone as well as to search national inventory database.
Maintain cleanliness according to regulate standards throughout the facilities, both inside and outside per organizations regulations.

Store merchandiser vs sales/stock associate skills

Common store merchandiser skills

In-Store, 15%
Customer Satisfaction, 11%
Retail Store, 10%
Cleanliness, 9%
Basic Math, 7%
Product Promotions, 4%

Common sales/stock associate skills

Kids, 40%
Store Locations, 20%
Store Shelves, 7%
Stock Room, 6%
Stock Shelves, 3%
Product Knowledge, 3%

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Office and Administrative Industry
Store Merchandiser
Store Merchandiser vs Sales/Stock Associate

Updated January 8, 2025

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