Stower vs general merchandise clerk

The differences between stowers and general merchandise clerks can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a general merchandise clerk has an average salary of $34,415, which is higher than the $27,464 average annual salary of a stower.

The top three skills for a stower include PET, pallets and basic math. The most important skills for a general merchandise clerk are product knowledge, product displays, and customer service.

Stower vs general merchandise clerk overview

	Stower	General Merchandise Clerk
Yearly salary	$27,464	$34,415
Hourly rate	$13.20	$16.55
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	198,954	137,799
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 44%	High School Diploma, 36%
Average age	38	38
Years of experience	-	-

What does a stower do?

A stower is responsible for scanning a product and appropriately placing it to the right shelf for customer's consumption. Duties of a stower include inspecting the item for any defects and escalating damaged items to the supervisor ensuring adequately labeled products. Other responsibilities include operating essential store equipment, adhering to the sanitary standards of the working area, and assisting customers with their concerns and inquiries. A stower should have excellent time-management skills and the ability to multi-task, especially on working with a fast-paced environment.

What does a general merchandise clerk do?

This individual works in the GM section of a store. They interact with customers and assist them as they purchase merchandise. In this role, they are expected to place all special orders and to take stock of all products annually. Other responsibilities of this position include developing merchandise plans and ensuring they are compliant with quality standards. They may also have to evaluate merchandise and ensure credit payments are accurate.

Stower vs general merchandise clerk salary

Stowers and general merchandise clerks have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Stower	General Merchandise Clerk
Average salary	$27,464	$34,415
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $34,000	Between $27,000 And $42,000
Highest paying City	Lakewood, WA	-
Highest paying state	Washington	-
Best paying company	Rich Products	-
Best paying industry	Technology	-

Differences between stower and general merchandise clerk education

There are a few differences between a stower and a general merchandise clerk in terms of educational background:

	Stower	General Merchandise Clerk
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 44%	High School Diploma, 36%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Stower vs general merchandise clerk demographics

Here are the differences between stowers' and general merchandise clerks' demographics:

	Stower	General Merchandise Clerk
Average age	38	38
Gender ratio	Male, 69.9% Female, 30.1%	Male, 50.2% Female, 49.8%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%	Black or African American, 7.5% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% Asian, 5.9% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage	6%	6%

Differences between stower and general merchandise clerk duties and responsibilities

Stower example responsibilities.

Operate material handling equipment in safe and efficient manner; including forklifts, balers, and compactors.
Itemize and total customer purchases at checkout counter, using POS terminal, and accept various forms of payment.
Use all equipment in deli/bakery/bistro such as the refrigerators, freezers, slicers, and ovens according to company guidelines.
Operate POS cash registers, closing/opening tills, balancing the cash drawer, and ensure customers are greeted and serve quickly.
Operate heavy machinery including balers and forklifts.
Maintain cleanliness of equipment and floor to ensure safety and sanitation regulations.

General merchandise clerk example responsibilities.

Provide great customer service while effectively bagging groceries.
Collect all carts from outside help cashiers bag groceries for customers and sometimes help the customers take groceries to their car.
Execute grain futures orders for special accounts that require extraordinary attention to detail as well as personalized service.
Work in almost every department in the Kroger store.

Stower vs general merchandise clerk skills

Common stower skills

PET, 23%
Pallets, 18%
Basic Math, 10%
Cleanliness, 7%
Math, 7%
Sales Floor, 5%

Common general merchandise clerk skills

Product Knowledge, 44%
Product Displays, 20%
Customer Service, 9%
Stock Shelves, 6%
Sales Floor, 3%
Math, 3%

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Stower vs General Merchandise Clerk

Updated January 8, 2025

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