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Merchandising Manager Salary in the United States

How much does a Merchandising Manager make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Merchandising Manager in the United States is $121,153 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $58.

However, a Merchandising Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $138,981
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $107,337 to $130,485
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,758
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Merchandising Manager Salaries

A Merchandising Manager's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Merchandising Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Merchandising Manager's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Merchandiser, Senior (4-7 years): $86,427
  • Merchandising Supervisor (7+ years): $88,369
  • Merchandising Manager (7+ years): $121,153
  • Merchandising Senior Manager (7+ years): $159,487
  • Merchandising Director (7+ years): $192,475
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Merchandiser, Senior4-7 years$86,427
Merchandising Supervisor7+ years$88,369
Merchandising Manager7+ years$121,153
Merchandising Senior Manager7+ years$159,487
Merchandising Director7+ years$192,475
View as Graph

How Do Merchandising Manager Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Merchandising Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $134,141.
  • California: $133,632.
  • Massachusetts: $131,851.

Top Paying Cities for Merchandising Managers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $152,810
  • San Francisco: $151,137
  • Oakland: $147,952

What Skills Can Increase a Merchandising Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 5.3% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • SAS (Mentioned in 1.53% Job Postings): SAS (Statistical Analysis System) is a statistical software suite developed by SAS Institute for data management, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis, business intelligence, criminal investigation, and predictive analytics.
  • Customer Satisfaction (Mentioned in 1.1% Job Postings): Customer satisfaction (often abbreviated as CSAT, more correctly CSat) is a term frequently used in marketing. It is a measure of how products and services supplied by a company meet or surpass customer expectation. Customer satisfaction is defined as "the number of customers, or percentage of total customers, whose reported experience with a firm, its products, or its services (ratings) exceeds specified satisfaction goals." The Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) endorses the definitions, purposes, and constructs of classes of measures that appear in Marketing Metrics as part of its ongoing Common Language in Marketing Project. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 71 percent responded that they found a customer satisfaction metric very useful in managing and monitoring their businesses. It is seen as a key performance indicator within business and is often part of a Balanced Scorecard. In a competitive marketplace where businesses compete for customers, customer satisfaction is seen as a key differentiator and increasingly has become a key element of business strategy.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 5.3%
SAS 1.53%
Customer Satisfaction 1.1%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Merchandising Manager's salary.

  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Facilitation: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement $146,595
21%
Facilitation $144,172
19%
Onboarding $142,961
18%
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Merchandising Manager Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Merchandising Manager salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $135,394. While startup companies pay approximate $114,529.

Merchandising Manager Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $114,529
Growth Stage 51~500 $121,126
Established 501~5000 $130,740
Enterprise 5000+ $135,394

Merchandising Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Merchandising Manager roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Merchandising Manager positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Merchandising Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Merchandising Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$145,384$70.020%
Energy & Utilities$145,384$70.020%
Financial Services$145,384$70.020%
Pharmaceuticals$145,384$70.020%
Software & Networking$145,384$70.020%

How Education impacts a Merchandising Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Merchandising Manager enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Merchandising Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $114,249 and $123,626.

Merchandising Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Merchandising Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.8%
High School 13.2%
Associates 12.4%
Bachelors 59.3%
Masters 14.0%
Doctorate 0.4%
View as Graph

Merchandising Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Merchandising Manager's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$107,337
Average $121,153/year
$130,485
$8,945
Average $10,096/month
$10,874
$2,064
Average $2,330/week
$2,509
$52
Average $58/hour
$63
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $130,485 $10,874 $2,509 $63
Average $121,153 $10,096 $2,330 $58
25th Percentile $107,337 $8,945 $2,064 $52

Merchandising Manager Salary Growth & Career Path

Merchandising Manager

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Advancement

For a Merchandising Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Merchandising Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $159,487 - a projected growth of 32% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Merchandising Manager

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Merchandising Manager

Here are companies hiring for Merchandising Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Merchandising Manager

1. Where can a Merchandising Manager earn the most?

A Merchandising Manager's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Merchandising Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Merchandising Manager is $152,810.

2. What is the highest pay for Merchandising Manager?

The highest pay for Merchandising Manager is $138,981.

3. What is the lowest pay for Merchandising Manager?

The lowest pay for Merchandising Manager is $94,758.

4. What are the responsibilities of Merchandising Manager?

Manages merchandising operations and develops and executes merchandising plans to deliver volume and profit goals. Develops effective merchandising plans for categories and locations, utilizing data representing customer insights, consumer trends, buying patterns, sales and inventory metrics, forecasting, and competitive landscape. Collaborate with marketing, finance, and buying to Identify new suppliers and products that reflect consumer preferences and drive sales. Coaches and mentors merchandising staff to produce product assortments that reflect branding, buying trends and support seasonal customer demand. Typically requires a bachelor's degree in marketing, merchandising, business or other related field. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1 - 3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Merchandising Manager?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Merchandising Manager roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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