How much does a Merchandise Handler make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Merchandise Handler in the United States is $58,554 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.
However, a Merchandise Handler's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $65,575
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,209 to $62,229
Key Factors That Influence Merchandise Handler Salaries
A Merchandise Handler'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 Merchandise Handler Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Merchandise Handler'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:
Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $59,876
Early Career (1-2 years): $88,481
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $90,454
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $124,058
Expert (over 8 years): $163,289
Levels
Salary
Merchandi... Level Merchandise Handler
$59,876
Merchandi... Level Merchandise Handler
$88,481
Merchandi... Level Merchandise Handler
$90,454
Merchandi... Level Merchandise Handler
$124,058
Merchandi... Level Merchandise Handler
$163,289
$59,8760 yr
$88,481< 2 yrs
$90,4542-4 yrs
$124,0585-8 yrs
$163,289> 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Merchandise Handler 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 Merchandise Handlers.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $64,831.
California: $64,585.
Massachusetts: $63,724.
District of Columbia$64,831
California$64,585
Massachusetts$63,724
Washington$63,490
New Jersey$63,467
Alaska$63,385
Connecticut$62,577
New York$62,249
Hawaii$61,201
Rhode Island$60,709
Maryland$60,375
Minnesota$59,918
Colorado$59,743
Illinois$59,684
Oregon$59,461
Delaware$59,298
New Hampshire$59,194
Virginia$58,964
Pennsylvania$58,290
Nevada$57,951
North Dakota$57,840
Michigan$57,664
Wisconsin$57,599
Vermont$57,471
Texas$57,113
Maine$57,090
Arizona$57,055
Ohio$57,014
Georgia$56,475
Indiana$56,206
Wyoming$56,153
Utah$56,071
Iowa$56,036
Kansas$55,755
Louisiana$55,673
North Carolina$55,644
Missouri$55,632
Florida$55,404
Montana$55,281
Nebraska$55,164
Kentucky$55,099
South Carolina$54,865
Tennessee$54,719
Idaho$54,660
New Mexico$54,233
Oklahoma$54,139
Alabama$53,793
South Dakota$53,214
Arkansas$52,898
West Virginia$52,728
Mississippi$52,218
Top Paying Cities for Merchandise Handlers
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: $73,854
San Francisco: $73,045
Oakland: $71,506
San Jose, CA$73,854
San Francisco, CA$73,045
Oakland, CA$71,506
New York, NY$67,418
Paramus, NJ$66,599
Queens Village, NY$66,596
Passaic, NJ$66,540
Bergenfield, NJ$66,535
Stamford, CT$66,406
Huntington, NY$66,382
Newark, NJ$65,949
Bridgeport, CT$65,826
Vallejo, CA$65,709
New Brunswick, NJ$65,686
Petaluma, CA$65,651
Middlesex, NJ$65,539
Somerset, NJ$65,498
Santa Cruz, CA$65,422
Boston, MA$65,065
Monterey, CA$64,860
Seattle, WA$64,725
Santa Rosa, CA$64,714
Los Angeles, CA$64,696
Juneau, AK$64,544
Washington, DC$64,480
Orange, CA$64,271
Santa Ana, CA$64,117
Long Beach, CA$64,058
Anaheim, CA$64,046
Anchorage, AK$64,017
Santa Maria, CA$63,841
Everett, WA$63,830
Danbury, CT$63,623
Bremerton, WA$63,543
Tacoma, WA$63,332
New Suffolk, NY$63,331
Sacramento, CA$63,314
Santa Barbara, CA$63,250
Trenton, NJ$63,186
San Diego, CA$63,186
Brockton, MA$63,121
Fairbanks, AK$62,978
Lompoc, CA$62,828
Lowell, MA$62,781
Ventura, CA$62,770
Nashua, NH$62,758
Stockton, CA$62,752
Modesto, CA$62,325
Poughkeepsie, NY$62,196
Olympia, WA$62,085
Kennewick, WA$62,085
New Haven, CT$62,061
Lawrence, MA$61,850
Hartford, CT$61,792
Riverside, CA$61,780
New Bedford, MA$61,722
Richland, WA$61,722
Bakersfield, CA$61,640
San Bernardino, CA$61,616
New Britain, CT$61,610
Atlantic City, NJ$61,610
New London, CT$61,587
Norwich, CT$61,569
Portsmouth, NH$61,558
Boulder, CO$61,434
Portland, OR$61,353
Worcester, MA$61,347
Minneapolis, MN$61,165
Philadelphia, PA$61,083
Honolulu, HI$60,890
Saint Paul, MN$60,862
Vineland, NJ$60,849
Providence, RI$60,679
Chicago, IL$60,510
Bellingham, WA$60,439
Springfield, MA$60,392
Baltimore, MD$60,375
Chico, CA$60,229
Pittsfield, MA$60,070
Manchester, NH$59,959
Spokane, WA$59,702
Denver, CO$59,696
Albany, NY$59,420
Troy, NY$59,397
Nassau, NY$59,334
Schenectady, NY$59,274
Wilmington, DE$59,227
Burlington, VT$59,145
Salem, OR$59,122
Portland, ME$58,940
Yakima, WA$58,882
Rochester, MN$58,700
Reno, NV$58,671
Fresno, CA$58,671
Milwaukee, WI$58,618
Detroit, MI$58,560
Ann Arbor, MI$58,550
Allentown, PA$58,542
Colorado Springs, CO$58,443
Syracuse, NY$58,413
Carson City, NV$58,413
Houston, TX$58,331
Eugene, OR$58,302
Gary, IN$58,232
Springfield, OR$58,185
Bismarck, ND$58,173
Galveston, TX$58,132
Medford, OR$58,044
Fort Collins, CO$58,021
Concord, NH$57,992
Austin, TX$57,974
Mesa, AZ$57,851
Reading, PA$57,845
Phoenix, AZ$57,840
Dallas, TX$57,822
Saint Cloud, MN$57,766
Madison, WI$57,687
Utica, NY$57,529
Rochester, NY$57,436
Des Moines, IA$57,430
Raleigh, NC$57,424
Atlanta, GA$57,336
Battle Creek, MI$57,318
Salt Lake City, UT$57,301
Lancaster, PA$57,213
Harrisburg, PA$57,131
Kansas City, MO$57,072
Champaign, IL$57,061
Kansas City, KS$57,061
Fort Worth, TX$57,055
Columbus, OH$57,045
Boca Raton, FL$57,031
Pittsburgh, PA$57,008
Richmond, VA$56,985
Indianapolis, IN$56,973
Cleveland, OH$56,967
Las Vegas, NV$56,897
Cincinnati, OH$56,897
Petersburg, VA$56,809
Huntsville, AL$56,721
Lansing, MI$56,682
Lebanon, PA$56,674
Pueblo, CO$56,668
Appleton, WI$56,651
Buffalo, NY$56,627
Dayton, OH$56,610
Racine, WI$56,598
Charlotte, NC$56,592
Saint Louis, MO$56,575
York, PA$56,540
Elkhart, IN$56,540
Gastonia, NC$56,529
Billings, MT$56,514
Beaumont, TX$56,499
Lorain, OH$56,487
Benton Harbor, MI$56,475
Toledo, OH$56,464
Binghamton, NY$56,434
Rock Hill, SC$56,428
Rockford, IL$56,399
Springfield, IL$56,376
Elyria, OH$56,370
Fargo, ND$56,370
Flagstaff, AZ$56,329
Fort Lauderdale, FL$56,294
Duluth, MN$56,259
Miami, FL$56,259
Cheyenne, WY$56,218
Grand Forks, ND$56,218
Bangor, ME$56,089
Cedar Rapids, IA$56,024
Durham, NC$56,000
Louisville, KY$55,995
Grand Rapids, MI$55,983
Hialeah, FL$55,978
Casper, WY$55,896
Scranton, PA$55,825
New Orleans, LA$55,808
Virginia Beach, VA$55,802
Akron, OH$55,773
Peoria, IL$55,696
Sarasota, FL$55,685
Nashville, TN$55,644
Omaha, NE$55,644
Green Bay, WI$55,644
Baton Rouge, LA$55,614
Charleston, SC$55,603
Jamestown, NY$55,574
Davenport, IA$55,574
Tucson, AZ$55,544
Saint Petersburg, FL$55,509
Tampa, FL$55,497
Evansville, IN$55,462
Port Arthur, TX$55,462
Bradenton, FL$55,439
Santa Fe, NM$55,333
Orlando, FL$55,228
Clearwater, FL$55,210
Canton, OH$55,088
La Crosse, WI$55,088
Albuquerque, NM$55,052
Newport News, VA$55,047
High Point, NC$55,029
Ogden, UT$55,006
Corpus Christi, TX$54,959
Norfolk, VA$54,924
Laramie, WY$54,924
Rock Island, IL$54,888
Saginaw, MI$54,877
Jacksonville, FL$54,871
Salisbury, NC$54,859
Boise, ID$54,847
Moline, IL$54,818
Fort Myers, FL$54,801
Memphis, TN$54,789
Tulsa, OK$54,760
Waterloo, IA$54,724
Spartanburg, SC$54,666
Lincoln, NE$54,637
Fort Wayne, IN$54,625
Provo, UT$54,619
Cedar Falls, IA$54,549
San Antonio, TX$54,525
Greensboro, NC$54,502
South Bend, IN$54,496
Savannah, GA$54,432
Muskegon, MI$54,408
Birmingham, AL$54,402
Winston Salem, NC$54,374
Lake Charles, LA$54,233
Anderson, IN$54,221
Lexington, KY$54,203
Augusta, GA$54,186
Greenville, SC$54,186
Lima, OH$54,139
Wichita, KS$54,133
Tuscaloosa, AL$54,133
Columbia, SC$54,080
Springfield, OH$54,069
Asheville, NC$53,975
Bloomington, IN$53,934
Knoxville, TN$53,723
Shreveport, LA$53,717
Wilmington, NC$53,641
Roanoke, VA$53,641
Topeka, KS$53,536
Frankfort, KY$53,529
Oklahoma City, OK$53,489
Chillicothe, OH$53,466
Longview, TX$53,460
Melbourne, FL$53,454
Sioux Falls, SD$53,360
Mobile, AL$53,354
Terre Haute, IN$53,331
Altoona, PA$53,296
Amarillo, TX$53,255
Killeen, TX$53,237
Fayetteville, AR$53,190
Chattanooga, TN$53,173
Sioux City, IA$53,120
Idaho Falls, ID$53,108
Lynchburg, VA$53,062
Gainesville, FL$52,985
Portsmouth, OH$52,956
Little Rock, AR$52,944
Lafayette, LA$52,921
Youngstown, OH$52,921
Daytona Beach, FL$52,886
Clarksville, TN$52,880
Pensacola, FL$52,874
Temple, TX$52,870
Hopkinsville, KY$52,699
Erie, PA$52,687
Florence, SC$52,663
Charleston, WV$52,570
Great Falls, MT$52,540
Macon, GA$52,458
Tallahassee, FL$52,453
Fayetteville, NC$52,441
Waco, TX$52,429
Helena, MT$52,388
Pine Bluff, AR$52,366
Vincennes, IN$52,294
Lubbock, TX$52,271
Alamogordo, NM$52,236
Twin Falls, ID$52,183
Rapid City, SD$52,166
Jackson, MS$52,060
Huntington, WV$52,056
Greenville, MS$52,054
Parkersburg, WV$51,995
Montgomery, AL$51,984
Wichita Falls, TX$51,926
Springfield, MO$51,926
Biloxi, MS$51,896
Monroe, LA$51,838
Johnstown, PA$51,797
Sumter, SC$51,773
Columbus, GA$51,768
Pascagoula, MS$51,656
Abilene, TX$51,656
Kingsport, TN$51,504
Albany, GA$51,504
Gulfport, MS$51,486
Alexandria, LA$51,293
Fort Smith, AR$51,147
El Paso, TX$50,989
Las Cruces, NM$50,725
Harlingen, TX$50,577
Pocatello, ID$50,567
Florence, AL$50,491
Brownsville, TX$50,479
Mcallen, TX$50,356
Dothan, AL$50,274
Columbus, MS$49,927
Altus, OK$49,654
Lawton, OK$49,542
Pierre, SD$49,332
What Skills Can Increase a Merchandise Handler's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Customer Service (Mentioned in 12.75% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Product Knowledge (Mentioned in 1.54% Job Postings): Product knowledge is the ability to communicate information and answer questions about a product or service. It is considered an important knowledge area for any role that puts you in front of customers, investors or the media.
Services Marketing (Mentioned in 1.01% Job Postings): Services marketing is a form of marketing businesses that provide a service to their customers use to increase brand awareness and sales
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Customer Service
12.75%
Product Knowledge
1.54%
Services Marketing
1.01%
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 Merchandise Handler's salary.
Services Marketing: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Results Oriented: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Category Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Services Marketing
$67,337
15%
Results Oriented
$67,337
15%
Category Management
$67,337
15%
Hard Working
$64,995
11%
Confidentiality
$64,995
11%
Leadership
$62,653
7%
Get Latest Data
Merchandise Handler Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Merchandise Handler roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the MFG Durable and Construction
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average.
In contrast, Merchandise Handler positions in MFG Nondurable or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Merchandise Handler as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Merchandise Handler
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
MFG Durable
$81,975
$39.0
40%
Construction
$76,120
$37.0
30%
Internet
$73,192
$35.0
25%
Aerospace & Defense
$70,265
$34.0
20%
Hospitality & Leisure
$67,337
$32.0
15%
How Education impacts a Merchandise Handler's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Merchandise Handlers enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Merchandise Handler with a No Diploma is between
$61,099
and $67,620).
Merchandise Handler Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Merchandise Handler
No Diploma3.4%
High School17.7%
Associates15.8%
Bachelors57.1%
Masters5.9%
Doctorate0.0%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
3.4%
High School
17.7%
Associates
15.8%
Bachelors
57.1%
Masters
5.9%
Doctorate
0.0%
view as graph
Merchandise Handler Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Merchandise Handler'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.
Salaries for a Merchandise Handler can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $56,942 in 2023
to around $56,451 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Merchandise Handler salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Merchandise Handler Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$56,942
2024
$56,973
2025
$56,451
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$56,942
2024
$56,973
2025
$56,451
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Merchandise Handler
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation Planning
Common company salaries for Merchandise Handler
Here are companies hiring for Merchandise Handler and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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