How to become a Merchandise Planner
Plans, organises and controls merchandise by analysing sales data and market trends to forecast product demand.
Main tasks
- Analyses sales data and market trends to create merchandise plans on forecast product demand
- Manages financial planning, forecasting and open-to-buy budgets
- Collaborates with buying and marketing teams to develop and manage product assortments and promotional strategies based on market analysis and financial planning
- Manages inventory across stores to ensure optimal stock levels, minimise excess inventory and prevent stockouts
- Monitors sales performance and adjusts merchandise plans as needed
- Conducts financial analysis to track profitability and make recommendations for improvement
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Diploma of Retail Leadership (SIR50116); Diploma of Visual Merchandising (SIR50217); Advanced Diploma of Visual Merchandising (SIR60221); Diploma of Retail Merchandise Management (SIR50317); Certificate III in Retail (SIR30216); Certificate III in Rural Merchandising (AHC32724); Certificate IV in Supply Chain Operations (TLI40324)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $79,820 a year
- About 6,900 people work in this job group now, and about 7,100 are projected by 2035. (+4.1%)
- AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Related jobs
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Merchandise Planner?
Ways in include: Diploma of Retail Leadership; Diploma of Visual Merchandising.
How much does a Merchandise Planner earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $79,820 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Merchandise Planner a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 6,900 to about 7,100 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Merchandise Planner?
Not always. 46% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Diploma of Retail Leadership; Diploma of Visual Merchandising.
Will AI change the work of a Merchandise Planner?
AI is likely to change parts of this job. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as medium.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04