by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Merchandising and Buying Operations covers Merchandising And Buying Operations. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Function As Professional Buyers Of Resale Products And Product Lines For Stores, Chains, And Other Retail Enterprises. Includes Instruction In Product Evaluation, Merchandising, Applicable Aspects Of Brand And Consumer Research, Principles Of Purchasing, And Negotiation Skills. Read on to learn the key facts every merchandising and buying operations major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering merchandising and buying operations programs.
Across the country, merchandising and buying operations is a popular field of study, with 57 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Merchandising and Buying Operations Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for merchandising and buying operations students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of merchandising and buying operations programs later in this article.
Studies in Merchandising and Buying Operations develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations merchandising and buying operations graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a merchandising and buying operations program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a merchandising and buying operations major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several merchandising and buying operations degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11 |
People currently working in careers related to merchandising and buying operations tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 13.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 10.3% |
| Some college courses | 8.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in merchandising and buying operations careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in merchandising and buying operations prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to merchandising and buying operations.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to merchandising and buying operations.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | 465,393 | 2.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of merchandising and buying operations graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,294 |
| 4 years | $56,564 |
| 5 years | $66,475 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for merchandising and buying operations graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers merchandising and buying operations grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products | $111,183 |
With 2 different merchandising and buying operations programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased merchandising and buying operations school rankings to help you.
Those considering merchandising and buying operations, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General | 3,325 |
| Selling Skills and Sales Operations | 1,566 |
| Retailing and Retail Operations | 1,000 |
| General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other | 223 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
