Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers: Career Overview
Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
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The Daily Work of Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Perform?
The core tasks performed by merchandise displayers and window trimmers include:
- Plan commercial displays to entice and appeal to customers.
- Arrange properties, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, or other accessories, as shown in prepared sketches.
- Change or rotate window displays, interior display areas, or signage to reflect changes in inventory or promotion.
- Place prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or floor.
- Consult with store managers, buyers, sales associates, housekeeping staff, or engineering staff to determine appropriate placement of displays or products.
- Maintain props, products, or mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections, doing touch-ups, cleaning up after customers, or applying preservative coatings as necessary.
- Develop ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations.
- Assemble or set up displays, furniture, or products in store space, using colors, lights, pictures, or other accessories to display the product.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective merchandise displayers and window trimmers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Apparel Merchandiser
- Decorator
- Display Artist
- Display Associate
- Display Coordinator
- Display Decorator
- Display Designer
- Display Specialist
How Many Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Are There?
There are roughly 36,936 merchandise displayers and window trimmers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +0.0% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $62,334 |
| Hourly median | $29.97 |
| 10th percentile | $39,729 |
| 25th percentile | $51,031 |
| 75th percentile | $73,636 |
| 90th percentile | $84,938 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $45,760 |
| Alaska | $44,410 |
| Utah | $43,260 |
| California | $42,530 |
| District of Columbia | $42,230 |
| Connecticut | $42,170 |
| Massachusetts | $42,010 |
| Vermont | $41,790 |
| Colorado | $41,660 |
| New York | $40,610 |
| South Dakota | $40,210 |
| Oregon | $39,580 |
| Montana | $39,540 |
| Minnesota | $39,350 |
| New Hampshire | $39,060 |
| Kansas | $39,000 |
| Illinois | $38,480 |
| Maryland | $38,380 |
| Maine | $38,350 |
| North Dakota | $38,270 |
| Hawaii | $37,960 |
| Nevada | $37,770 |
| Ohio | $37,110 |
| Iowa | $36,830 |
| Idaho | $36,810 |
| Rhode Island | $36,490 |
| Wyoming | $36,320 |
| Wisconsin | $36,240 |
| Florida | $36,050 |
| Michigan | $35,980 |
| Delaware | $35,970 |
| New Jersey | $35,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $35,880 |
| Nebraska | $35,870 |
| Virginia | $35,670 |
| Arizona | $35,540 |
| Arkansas | $35,470 |
| Texas | $35,410 |
| Missouri | $35,390 |
| Indiana | $35,300 |
| Alabama | $34,920 |
| Kentucky | $34,920 |
| New Mexico | $34,780 |
| West Virginia | $34,630 |
| Tennessee | $34,590 |
| North Carolina | $34,570 |
| South Carolina | $34,540 |
| Oklahoma | $34,340 |
| Georgia | $34,160 |
| Louisiana | $33,320 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,090 |
| Mississippi | $31,800 |
| Virgin Islands | $28,470 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for merchandise displayers and window trimmers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $42,215 | 17.5% | 1.08 |
| New England | $41,000 | 4.4% | 0.95 |
| Rocky Mountains | $40,662 | 4.2% | 1.11 |
| Middle Atlantic | $38,081 | 13.5% | 0.92 |
| Plains States | $37,439 | 5.6% | 0.85 |
| Great Lakes | $36,666 | 13.5% | 1.03 |
| Southwest | $35,325 | 12.8% | 1.01 |
| Southeast | $34,828 | 28.3% | 1.18 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | UT | $52,630 | 1,510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $51,390 | 1,820 |
| Gadsden, AL | AL | $50,670 | 130 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $48,050 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | CA | $47,820 | 210 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $46,630 | 2,040 |
| Bellingham, WA | WA | $46,590 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | CA | $46,480 | 120 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of merchandise displayers and window trimmers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade | 79,710 | $35,770 |
| Wholesale Trade | 59,180 | $40,860 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 18,710 | $35,820 |
| Manufacturing | 10,110 | $39,880 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 4,570 | $58,190 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 2,260 | $43,180 |
| Accommodation and Food Services | 640 | $31,470 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 250 | $39,010 |
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers work in the following industries:
Tools and Technology
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Apple iOS (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Apple Safari (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Google Docs (hot technology)
- Internet browser software: Microsoft Edge (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The on-the-job environment of merchandise displayers and window trimmers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Spend Time Standing
- Spend Time Walking or Running
Getting Started in This Career
Typical merchandise displayers and window trimmers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products (Supplemental)
- Art Directors (Supplemental)
- Craft Artists (Primary-Long)
- Commercial and Industrial Designers (Primary-Long)
- Fashion Designers (Primary-Short)
- Floral Designers (Primary-Long)
- Graphic Designers (Primary-Long)
- Interior Designers (Primary-Short)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring merchandise displayers and window trimmers often complete programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-1026.00 (Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers).