Life As an 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.
Online Merchant Responsibilities
- Measure and analyze Web site usage data to maximize search engine returns or refine customer interfaces.
- Calculate purchase subtotals, taxes, and shipping costs for submission to customers.
- Transfer digital media, such as music, video, or software, to customers via the Internet.
- Select and purchase technical web services, such as web hosting services, online merchant accounts, shopping cart software, payment gateway software, or spyware.
- Investigate products or markets to determine areas for opportunity or viability for merchandising specific products, using online or offline sources.
- Devise, select, or purchase domain name and web address.
Online Merchant Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Online Merchants say are important on the job.
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.
Related Job Titles
- Vice President of Marketing
- Owner, E Commerce Company
- E-Commerce Merchant
- Internet Retailer
- E-Commerce Coordinator
Job Opportunities for Online Merchants
In the United States, there were 1,023,900 jobs for Online Merchant in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 104,200 positions for Online Merchant per year.
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.
How Much Does an Online Merchant Make?
The average yearly salary of an Online Merchant ranges between $38,420 and $123,000.
Online Merchants who work in District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Online Merchants make in different U.S. states?
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?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Online Merchants:
- 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
Becoming an Online Merchant
Are there Online Merchants education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become an Online Merchant?
Where Online Merchants Work
Below are examples of industries where Online Merchants work:
References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.