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Director, Category Merchandising Salary in the United States

How much does a Director, Category Merchandising make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Director, Category Merchandising in the United States is $292,552 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $141.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $353,616
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $268,556 to $324,515
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $246,709
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Director, Category Merchandising Salaries

A Director, Category Merchandising'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Director, Category Merchandising Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Director, Category Merchandising'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): $121,601
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $160,077
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $193,187
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $290,202
  • Expert (over 8 years): $437,214
Levels Salary
Merchandi... Level Director, Category Merchandising$121,601
Merchandi... Level Director, Category Merchandising$160,077
Merchandi... Level Director, Category Merchandising$193,187
Director,... Level Director, Category Merchandising$290,202
Chief Mer... Level Director, Category Merchandising$437,214
View as Graph

How Do Director, Category Merchandising 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 Director, Category Merchandisings. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $323,914.
  • California: $322,685.
  • Massachusetts: $318,384.

Top Paying Cities for Director, Category Merchandisings

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: $368,996
  • San Francisco: $364,956
  • Oakland: $357,265

What Skills Can Increase a Director, Category Merchandising's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 4.79% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Foodservice (Mentioned in 1.42% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.06% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 4.79%
Foodservice 1.42%
Economics 1.06%
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 Director, Category Merchandising's salary.

  • Purchasing: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Pricing Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 32%.
  • Packaging: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Purchasing $389,094
33%
Pricing Strategy $386,169
32%
Packaging $365,690
25%
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Director, Category Merchandising Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Director, Category Merchandising 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 Construction and MFG Nondurable sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Director, Category Merchandising positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Director, Category Merchandising as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Director, Category Merchandising

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Construction$351,062$169.020%
MFG Nondurable$345,211$166.018%
Insurance$336,435$162.015%
Aerospace & Defense$327,658$158.012%
Energy & Utilities$321,807$155.010%

Director, Category Merchandising Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Director, Category Merchandising'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
$268,556
Average $292,552/year
$324,515
$22,380
Average $24,379/month
$27,043
$5,165
Average $5,626/week
$6,241
$129
Average $141/hour
$156
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $324,515 $27,043 $6,241 $156
Average $292,552 $24,379 $5,626 $141
25th Percentile $268,556 $22,380 $5,165 $129

Most common benefits for Director, Category Merchandising

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

Common company salaries for Director, Category Merchandising

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

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FAQ about Director, Category Merchandising

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Director, Category Merchandising?

The Construction industry offers the highest average compensation for Director, Category Merchandising 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.)

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