Arts & Media

How much does a merchandise displayer and window trimmer make?

The median merchandise displayer and window trimmer in the United States earns $37,350 per year, about $17.96 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all merchandise displayers and window trimmers earn more, and half earn less.

Median annual salary
$37,350
Median hourly wage
$17.96 /hr
Employed in the U.S.
192,480

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 27-1026.

Merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary range

Pay for merchandise displayers and window trimmers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $30,050 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $53,800. The average (mean) wage of $40,540 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Percentile Annual Hourly
10th percentile $30,050 $14.45 Lowest paid
25th percentile $33,580 $16.15
Median (50th) $37,350 $17.96 Midpoint
75th percentile $44,750 $21.52
90th percentile $53,800 $25.86 Highest paid

Figures are national wage estimates for merchandise displayers and window trimmers (SOC 27-1026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.

Merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary by state

Where you work changes the paycheck. Merchandise displayers and window trimmers earn the most in Washington at $45,760 a year, and the least in Mississippi at $31,800. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.

State Median annual Employed
Washington $45,760 3,230
Alaska $44,410 610
Utah $43,260 1,950
California $42,530 24,660
District of Columbia $42,230 120
Connecticut $42,170 1,690
Massachusetts $42,010 4,190
Vermont $41,790 210
Colorado $41,660 3,650
New York $40,610 10,720
South Dakota $40,210 500
Oregon $39,580 1,380
Montana $39,540 470
Minnesota $39,350 2,110
New Hampshire $39,060 870
Kansas $39,000 1,760
Illinois $38,480 4,080
Maryland $38,380 2,300
Maine $38,350 1,120
North Dakota $38,270 540
Hawaii $37,960 1,100
Nevada $37,770 2,750
Ohio $37,110 8,300
Iowa $36,830 2,110
Idaho $36,810 1,750
Rhode Island $36,490 380
Wyoming $36,320 330
Wisconsin $36,240 3,280
Florida $36,050 11,910
Michigan $35,980 6,680
Delaware $35,970 800
New Jersey $35,900 5,700
Pennsylvania $35,880 6,430
Nebraska $35,870 660
Virginia $35,670 5,720
Arizona $35,540 4,700
Arkansas $35,470 2,100
Texas $35,410 17,010
Missouri $35,390 3,070
Indiana $35,300 3,720
Alabama $34,920 3,090
Kentucky $34,920 3,200
New Mexico $34,780 1,070
West Virginia $34,630 880
Tennessee $34,590 3,670
North Carolina $34,570 6,480
South Carolina $34,540 3,090
Oklahoma $34,340 1,880
Georgia $34,160 8,780
Louisiana $33,320 3,630
Mississippi $31,800 2,090

State median wages for merchandise displayers and window trimmers (SOC 27-1026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.

Job outlook for merchandise displayers and window trimmers

The BLS projects employment of merchandise displayers and window trimmers to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 164,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 169,200 by 2035.

Across the decade, the BLS expects about 17,200 openings a year for merchandise displayers and window trimmers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).

How to become a merchandise displayer and window trimmer

The typical entry-level education for merchandise displayers and window trimmers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete short-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.

A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .

Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.

What affects how much a merchandise displayer and window trimmer earns

Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.

Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Washington, $45,760) and the lowest (Mississippi, $31,800) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.

About 192,480 people work as merchandise displayers and window trimmers in the United States. At $37,350 a year, the job pays below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.

Merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary FAQ

How much does a merchandise displayer and window trimmer make an hour?

The median hourly wage for a merchandise displayer and window trimmer is $17.96. The middle half of merchandise displayers and window trimmers earn between $16.15 and $21.52 per hour.

What is the highest merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary?

The highest paid 10 percent of merchandise displayers and window trimmers earn more than $53,800 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.

How much does a merchandise displayer and window trimmer make a year?

The median annual salary for a merchandise displayer and window trimmer is $37,350. The average (mean) wage of $40,540 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.

Is being a merchandise displayer and window trimmer a well paid job?

At $37,350 a year, a merchandise displayer and window trimmer earns below the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 192,480 people work as merchandise displayers and window trimmers in the United States.

Which state pays merchandise displayers and window trimmers the most?

Washington has the highest median salary for merchandise displayers and window trimmers at $45,760 a year. Alaska ($44,410) and Utah ($43,260) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.

Is being a merchandise displayer and window trimmer a good career?

Employment of merchandise displayers and window trimmers is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 17,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.

Do you need a degree to become a merchandise displayer and window trimmer?

No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for merchandise displayers and window trimmers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.

Related salaries

See more in Arts & Media salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.

Sources. National and state wage and employment figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 and the OEWS state files. Growth, openings, education, and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2025–2035). Every figure on this page is published by the BLS and is shown without adjustment. View the originals at bls.gov/oes and bls.gov/emp. Last updated 2025-04-02.