What is an Online Merchant?
Online Merchant Job Description Conduct retail activities of businesses operating exclusively online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.
Daily Life Of an Online Merchant
- Investigate products or markets to determine areas for opportunity or viability for merchandising specific products, using online or offline sources.
- Correspond with online customers via electronic mail, telephone, or other electronic messaging to address questions or complaints about products, policies, or shipping methods.
- Purchase new or used items from online or physical sources for resale via retail or auction Web site.
- Calculate revenue, sales, and expenses, using financial accounting or spreadsheet software.
- Create or distribute offline promotional material, such as brochures, pamphlets, business cards, stationary, or signage.
- Compose images of products, using video or still cameras, lighting equipment, props, or photo or video editing software.
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Skills Needed to be an Online Merchant
When polled, Online Merchants say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Types of Online Merchant Jobs
- E-Commerce Analyst
- Supervisor of Operations
- Wholesale Representative
- E-Commerce Business Channel Specialist
- Internet Retailer
Is There Going to be Demand for Online Merchants?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,023,900 jobs in the United States for Online Merchant. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 90,400 new jobs for Online Merchant by 2026. The BLS estimates 104,200 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Online Merchant are Utah, Nevada, and Arkansas. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Online Merchants Make A Lot Of Money?
Online Merchants make between $38,420 and $123,000 a year.

Online Merchants who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Online Merchants make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $85,140 |
Alaska | $82,160 |
Arizona | $67,670 |
Arkansas | $59,530 |
California | $83,470 |
Colorado | $82,130 |
Connecticut | $78,120 |
Delaware | $81,880 |
District of Columbia | $102,730 |
Florida | $66,440 |
Georgia | $75,070 |
Hawaii | $73,310 |
Idaho | $67,630 |
Illinois | $71,780 |
Indiana | $61,290 |
Iowa | $65,020 |
Kansas | $74,520 |
Kentucky | $66,450 |
Louisiana | $60,430 |
Maine | $66,760 |
Maryland | $91,400 |
Massachusetts | $85,980 |
Michigan | $70,410 |
Minnesota | $71,220 |
Mississippi | $65,650 |
Missouri | $73,500 |
Montana | $66,290 |
Nebraska | $74,370 |
Nevada | $71,580 |
New Hampshire | $70,890 |
New Jersey | $78,920 |
New Mexico | $70,340 |
New York | $83,330 |
North Carolina | $74,040 |
North Dakota | $73,010 |
Ohio | $71,190 |
Oklahoma | $72,940 |
Oregon | $68,890 |
Pennsylvania | $80,910 |
Rhode Island | $80,380 |
South Carolina | $69,340 |
South Dakota | $70,830 |
Tennessee | $62,330 |
Texas | $80,140 |
Utah | $72,100 |
Vermont | $67,910 |
Virginia | $88,180 |
Washington | $77,850 |
West Virginia | $70,180 |
Wisconsin | $57,620 |
Wyoming | $69,740 |
What Tools & Technology do Online Merchants Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Online Merchants may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- jQuery
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Microsoft Windows
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Visio
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- Microsoft Dynamics
- Linux
- Extensible markup language XML
How to Become an Online Merchant
What kind of Online Merchant requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become an Online Merchant?

Where Online Merchants Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Online Merchants work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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