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Visual merchandiser vs junior designer

The differences between visual merchandisers and junior designers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a junior designer has an average salary of $53,349, which is higher than the $38,037 average annual salary of a visual merchandiser.

The top three skills for a visual merchandiser include customer service, ladders and sales floor. The most important skills for a junior designer are sketch, graphic design, and adobe creative suite.

Visual merchandiser vs junior designer overview

Visual MerchandiserJunior Designer
Yearly salary$38,037$53,349
Hourly rate$18.29$25.65
Growth rate10%3%
Number of jobs74,35158,152
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4038
Years of experience-12

What does a visual merchandiser do?

A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.

What does a junior designer do?

A junior designer is an entry-level professional who is responsible for creating high-quality designs according to the requirements of clients. Under the supervision of senior designers, junior designers must understand project requirements and projects and use various techniques to create drafts, models, and prototypes. They collaborate with team members to pitch in creative ideas and produce final design solutions that can include banners or logos. Junior designers must also take on specially design tasks and use feedback from other designers to improve.

Visual merchandiser vs junior designer salary

Visual merchandisers and junior designers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Visual MerchandiserJunior Designer
Average salary$38,037$53,349
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $53,000Between $43,000 And $65,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYSanta Rosa, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkAlaska
Best paying companyRHNike
Best paying industryRetailTechnology

Differences between visual merchandiser and junior designer education

There are a few differences between a visual merchandiser and a junior designer in terms of educational background:

Visual MerchandiserJunior Designer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorSpecialized Sales And MerchandisingGraphic Design
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

Visual merchandiser vs junior designer demographics

Here are the differences between visual merchandisers' and junior designers' demographics:

Visual MerchandiserJunior Designer
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 27.3% Female, 72.7%Male, 50.4% Female, 49.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 8.5% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 13.8% Asian, 5.3% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage17%13%

Differences between visual merchandiser and junior designer duties and responsibilities

Visual merchandiser example responsibilities.

  • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
  • Provide support to all meeting and VTC rooms.
  • Merchandise mens, ladies, kids, and accessories departments.
  • Operate audio board, PowerPoint, camera, and video switcher.
  • Assist outside vendor merchandisers (NIKE) with execution of planograms.
  • Assist with prop development and production for the 5 NYC flagship stores.
  • Show more

Junior designer example responsibilities.

  • Manage the website and twitter page, write the blog posts and attend numerous fashion shows and sample sale rooms.
  • Coordinate REVIT teaching for inner office/branches.
  • Utilize PowerPoint to create furniture, lighting and final material selection presentations for client meetings.
  • Create PowerPoint templates to be used by clients or other upper management in proposals or live shows.
  • Sketch new designs (by hand and computer aid) add colors and make updates to carry-over styles as necessary.
  • Develop residential designs using Revit.
  • Show more

Visual merchandiser vs junior designer skills

Common visual merchandiser skills
  • Customer Service, 25%
  • Ladders, 17%
  • Sales Floor, 10%
  • Store Management, 6%
  • Drive Sales, 6%
  • Kids, 5%
Common junior designer skills
  • Sketch, 10%
  • Graphic Design, 9%
  • Adobe Creative Suite, 8%
  • Revit, 5%
  • Design Projects, 5%
  • PowerPoint, 4%

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