Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (SOC 27-1026) earn a median $39,390 a year ($18.94 an hour) in the United States, with 165,220 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What merchandise displayers and window trimmers do
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in the windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions. They come up with ideas or plans for merchandise displays or window decorations, plan displays meant to draw in customers, and put together displays, furniture, or products in store space using colors and lights. They arrange props, furniture, merchandise, backdrops, and other accessories as shown in plans, change or rotate window and interior displays or signage to reflect changes, and place prices or descriptive signs on backdrops, fixtures, merchandise, or the floor. They consult with store managers, buyers, and sales associates, and maintain props, products, and mannequins, inspecting them for imperfections and touching them up. Alternate titles include display artist, display coordinator, and display specialist. Interior designers, who plan permanent spaces, are counted separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Apparel Merchandiser, Decorator, Display Artist, Display Associate, Display Coordinator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $14.79 | $16.89 | $18.94 | $22.70 | $28.06 | $20.59 | 165,220 |
| Annual | $30,760 | $35,130 | $39,390 | $47,220 | $58,370 | $42,830 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where merchandise displayers and window trimmers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $19.18 | $21.07 | $23.45 | $27.20 | $36.02 | $25.10 | 2,550 | 0.72 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $39,890 | $43,830 | $48,780 | $56,580 | $74,910 | $52,210 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $18.31 | $19.61 | $22.60 | $24.24 | $29.75 | $23.60 | 17,840 | 0.98 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $38,080 | $40,800 | $47,010 | $50,430 | $61,870 | $49,090 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $17.85 | $19.69 | $22.37 | $23.40 | $26.38 | $22.52 | 540 | 1.65 | 1.55 |
| Annual | $37,130 | $40,950 | $46,530 | $48,670 | $54,880 | $46,840 | ||||
| Maine | Hourly | $16.05 | $16.97 | $22.00 | $23.66 | $27.82 | $21.85 | 910 | 1.42 | 1.33 |
| Annual | $33,390 | $35,290 | $45,750 | $49,210 | $57,860 | $45,450 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $17.33 | $18.18 | $21.99 | $23.62 | $29.82 | $22.49 | 1,820 | 0.62 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $36,050 | $37,810 | $45,730 | $49,140 | $62,030 | $46,790 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.31 | $19.61 | $22.60 | $24.24 | $29.75 | $23.60 | 17,840 | 0.98 | 0.92 |
| Annual | $38,080 | $40,800 | $47,010 | $50,430 | $61,870 | $49,090 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.35 | $16.11 | $17.91 | $21.33 | $24.03 | $19.08 | 14,730 | 1.05 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $29,860 | $33,510 | $37,260 | $44,360 | $49,980 | $39,680 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $14.21 | $15.38 | $17.41 | $20.46 | $24.77 | $18.78 | 14,360 | 1.45 | 1.36 |
| Annual | $29,560 | $31,980 | $36,220 | $42,550 | $51,530 | $39,060 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.19 | $18.17 | $20.99 | $26.28 | $35.14 | $23.49 | 10,430 | 1.08 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $35,760 | $37,800 | $43,660 | $54,670 | $73,100 | $48,850 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $13.92 | $15.03 | $17.81 | $22.53 | $27.68 | $19.29 | 7,790 | 1.59 | 1.50 |
| Annual | $28,960 | $31,250 | $37,050 | $46,870 | $57,570 | $40,130 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $20.72 | $23.33 | $27.97 | $28.38 | $32.15 | $26.67 | 120 | 0.86 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $43,110 | $48,520 | $58,170 | $59,020 | $66,870 | $55,460 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $22.06 | $23.87 | $26.91 | $31.32 | $39.67 | $29.15 | 1,290 | 0.55 | 0.51 |
| Annual | $45,890 | $49,650 | $55,960 | $65,140 | $82,510 | $60,630 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $20.59 | $23.37 | $26.22 | $29.68 | $46.09 | $28.68 | 570 | 0.50 | 0.47 |
| Annual | $42,820 | $48,610 | $54,530 | $61,720 | $95,880 | $59,660 | ||||
| Kennewick-Richland, WA | Hourly | $19.68 | $23.14 | $25.09 | $25.09 | $36.06 | $25.65 | 60 | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $40,930 | $48,130 | $52,190 | $52,190 | $74,990 | $53,360 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $19.45 | $22.41 | $24.32 | $27.21 | $37.84 | $26.20 | 1,540 | 0.74 | 0.70 |
| Annual | $40,460 | $46,610 | $50,580 | $56,600 | $78,710 | $54,490 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.39 | $19.05 | $22.10 | $27.52 | $35.94 | $24.53 | 8,710 | 0.92 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $36,170 | $39,630 | $45,980 | $57,240 | $74,750 | $51,020 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $19.03 | $21.57 | $23.51 | $23.56 | $28.97 | $23.87 | 7,430 | 1.19 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $39,590 | $44,860 | $48,900 | $49,010 | $60,250 | $49,650 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $16.02 | $16.98 | $18.57 | $22.35 | $24.54 | $20.04 | 4,600 | 1.14 | 1.07 |
| Annual | $33,320 | $35,320 | $38,630 | $46,490 | $51,040 | $41,690 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $14.72 | $15.78 | $18.00 | $22.85 | $28.33 | $20.41 | 4,340 | 1.50 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $30,610 | $32,810 | $37,440 | $47,540 | $58,920 | $42,450 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $14.38 | $16.00 | $18.10 | $21.82 | $25.74 | $19.40 | 3,070 | 1.09 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $29,900 | $33,280 | $37,650 | $45,380 | $53,540 | $40,360 | ||||
Top industries employing merchandise displayers and window trimmers
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) employ 27.3% of merchandise displayers and window trimmers nationally (45,120 jobs) at a median $43,560 a year ($20.94 an hour), followed by General Merchandise Retailers (12.5%) and Building Material and Supplies Dealers (11.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4244 and 4248 only) NAICS 4240A1 | 45,120 | 27.3% | $43,560 | $20.94 |
| General Merchandise Retailers NAICS 455000 | 20,690 | 12.5% | $37,030 | $17.81 |
| Building Material and Supplies Dealers NAICS 444100 | 19,140 | 11.6% | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services NAICS 541800 | 13,940 | 8.4% | $36,080 | $17.35 |
| Other Support Services NAICS 561900 | 9,430 | 5.7% | $35,510 | $17.07 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (165,220). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $32,060 for merchandise displayers and window trimmers in May 2021 and $39,390 in May 2025, with employment of 159,790 and 165,220.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $32,060 | $15.41 | 159,790 |
| May 2022 | $35,380 | $17.01 | 173,110 |
| May 2023 | $36,230 | $17.42 | 175,790 |
| May 2024 | $37,350 | $17.96 | 192,480 |
| May 2025 | $39,390 | $18.94 | 165,220 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $23.45 | $48,780 | $39,890 | $74,910 | 2,550 | 0.72 | 0.68 |
| 2 | California profile | $22.60 | $47,010 | $38,080 | $61,870 | 17,840 | 0.98 | 0.92 |
| 3 | Alaska profile | $22.37 | $46,530 | $37,130 | $54,880 | 540 | 1.65 | 1.55 |
| 4 | Maine profile | $22.00 | $45,750 | $33,390 | $57,860 | 910 | 1.42 | 1.33 |
| 5 | Minnesota profile | $21.99 | $45,730 | $36,050 | $62,030 | 1,820 | 0.62 | 0.58 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $21.73 | $45,200 | $36,820 | $66,030 | 1,220 | 0.62 | 0.58 |
| 7 | Vermont profile | $21.56 | $44,850 | $39,950 | $57,470 | 180 | 0.59 | 0.55 |
| 8 | Montana profile | $21.01 | $43,700 | $34,960 | $62,280 | 580 | 1.14 | 1.07 |
| 9 | New York profile | $20.99 | $43,660 | $35,760 | $73,100 | 10,430 | 1.08 | 1.01 |
| 10 | Maryland profile | $20.85 | $43,370 | $36,490 | $60,350 | 1,920 | 0.69 | 0.65 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $20.81 | $43,290 | $34,390 | $69,250 | 3,360 | 0.93 | 0.87 |
| 12 | Colorado profile | $20.78 | $43,230 | $35,880 | $56,080 | 3,650 | 1.27 | 1.20 |
| 13 | Missouri profile | $20.62 | $42,890 | $34,150 | $55,300 | 2,700 | 0.92 | 0.87 |
| 14 | Alabama profile | $20.60 | $42,840 | $29,370 | $59,720 | 2,900 | 1.37 | 1.29 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $20.39 | $42,410 | $35,360 | $64,860 | 1,450 | 0.85 | 0.80 |
| 16 | North Dakota profile | $20.23 | $42,080 | $37,650 | $54,640 | 350 | 0.81 | 0.76 |
| 17 | New Hampshire profile | $19.66 | $40,880 | $36,560 | $59,680 | 690 | 1.01 | 0.95 |
| 18 | Hawaii profile | $19.41 | $40,370 | $35,060 | $53,860 | 990 | 1.57 | 1.48 |
| 19 | Illinois profile | $19.36 | $40,270 | $34,850 | $66,060 | 3,090 | 0.51 | 0.48 |
| 20 | South Dakota profile | $19.32 | $40,190 | $34,680 | $58,600 | 320 | 0.69 | 0.65 |
| 21 | Kansas profile | $19.21 | $39,960 | $29,580 | $49,110 | 1,580 | 1.10 | 1.03 |
| 22 | Utah profile | $19.20 | $39,930 | $34,580 | $52,030 | 1,160 | 0.67 | 0.63 |
| 23 | Iowa profile | $19.08 | $39,680 | $30,080 | $56,530 | 1,860 | 1.19 | 1.12 |
| 24 | Arizona profile | $19.05 | $39,630 | $34,330 | $56,710 | 3,130 | 0.97 | 0.91 |
| 25 | Wisconsin profile | $19.00 | $39,510 | $30,750 | $51,550 | 2,930 | 0.99 | 0.94 |
| 26 | District of Columbia profile | $18.97 | $39,460 | $36,660 | $57,720 | 250 | 0.35 | 0.33 |
| 27 | Nevada profile | $18.96 | $39,440 | $32,280 | $52,670 | 2,300 | 1.49 | 1.40 |
| 28 | Wyoming profile | $18.65 | $38,790 | $35,370 | $62,400 | 220 | 0.77 | 0.72 |
| 29 | Idaho profile | $18.64 | $38,770 | $31,190 | $44,930 | 1,570 | 1.83 | 1.72 |
| 30 | Oklahoma profile | $18.45 | $38,380 | $28,950 | $63,800 | 1,570 | 0.92 | 0.87 |
| 31 | New Jersey profile | $18.37 | $38,200 | $33,160 | $57,190 | 5,120 | 1.19 | 1.12 |
| 32 | Nebraska profile | $18.26 | $37,980 | $30,940 | $52,900 | 680 | 0.66 | 0.62 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $18.25 | $37,960 | $29,640 | $61,620 | 6,040 | 1.22 | 1.15 |
| 34 | Ohio profile | $18.20 | $37,850 | $29,190 | $61,360 | 6,930 | 1.25 | 1.17 |
| 35 | Virginia profile | $18.15 | $37,750 | $30,680 | $64,550 | 4,450 | 1.08 | 1.02 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania profile | $18.14 | $37,740 | $30,890 | $55,310 | 5,230 | 0.86 | 0.81 |
| 37 | Delaware profile | $18.13 | $37,710 | $31,200 | $51,110 | 490 | 1.00 | 0.94 |
| 38 | Rhode Island profile | $18.08 | $37,610 | $31,260 | $62,330 | ** | ** | ** |
| 39 | Texas profile | $17.91 | $37,260 | $29,860 | $49,980 | 14,730 | 1.05 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Georgia profile | $17.81 | $37,050 | $28,960 | $57,570 | 7,790 | 1.59 | 1.50 |
| 41 | South Carolina profile | $17.70 | $36,810 | $30,060 | $55,680 | 2,550 | 1.11 | 1.04 |
| 42 | Michigan profile | $17.65 | $36,710 | $29,830 | $47,140 | 5,050 | 1.15 | 1.08 |
| 43 | West Virginia profile | $17.63 | $36,660 | $29,410 | $46,740 | 750 | 1.07 | 1.01 |
| 44 | New Mexico profile | $17.57 | $36,550 | $26,350 | $45,760 | 880 | 1.01 | 0.95 |
| 45 | Indiana profile | $17.56 | $36,510 | $29,340 | $64,120 | 2,610 | 0.82 | 0.77 |
| 46 | Arkansas profile | $17.42 | $36,230 | $28,250 | $45,510 | 1,670 | 1.29 | 1.21 |
| 47 | Florida profile | $17.41 | $36,220 | $29,560 | $51,530 | 14,360 | 1.45 | 1.36 |
| 48 | Kentucky profile | $17.22 | $35,820 | $22,230 | $49,420 | 2,460 | 1.23 | 1.16 |
| 49 | Louisiana profile | $16.76 | $34,860 | $28,350 | $49,740 | 2,360 | 1.22 | 1.15 |
| 50 | Tennessee profile | $16.59 | $34,500 | $28,780 | $45,940 | 4,710 | 1.44 | 1.35 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $15.88 | $33,040 | $24,660 | $47,960 | 1,760 | 1.51 | 1.43 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1026 Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1026, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1026.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.