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Visual merchandiser: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$39,390median pay per year, or $18.94 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $30,760lowest 10% earn less
  2. $35,13025th percentile
  3. $39,390median
  4. $47,22075th percentile
  5. $58,370top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for a visual merchandiser was $39,390 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow a little more slowly than the all-occupation rate[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+2.7%[2]
Openings per year
17,200[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do visual merchandisers make?

BLS files this job under Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers. In May 2025 the median pay was $39,390 a year, or $18.94 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The mean, or average, was $42,830 a year, or $20.59 an hour[8].

The median annual pay across all occupations in the US was $50,980[5]. The median here was lower than that figure.

Here is how annual pay was spread out:

Point in the range Annual pay Hourly pay
10th percentile[4][9] $30,760 $14.79
25th percentile[4][9] $35,130 $16.89
Median[1] $39,390 $18.94
75th percentile[4][9] $47,220 $22.70
90th percentile[4][9] $58,370 $28.06

A percentile is a boundary. The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $30,760[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[10].

These figures cover wage and salary workers, about 165,220 of them[11]. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[12]. Self-employment is rare in this job. BLS says 0.2% of workers were self-employed in 2025[13].

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median at $48,780, followed by California at $47,010 and Alaska at $46,530[14]. Mississippi had the lowest median among the 50 states and DC with published data, at $33,040[14].

The most jobs were in California (17,840), Texas (14,730) and Florida (14,360), followed by New York (10,430) and Georgia (7,790)[15].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Vallejo, CA had the highest median at $58,170[16]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA followed at $55,960, then San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $54,530[16]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 8,710, with a median of $45,980[17].

Show median pay in 50 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[14]$48,7802,550
California$47,01017,840
Alaska$46,530540
Maine$45,750910
Minnesota$45,7301,820
Oregon$45,2001,220
Vermont$44,850180
Montana$43,700580
New York$43,66010,430
Maryland$43,3701,920
Massachusetts$43,2903,360
Colorado$43,2303,650
Missouri$42,8902,700
Alabama$42,8402,900
Connecticut$42,4101,450
North Dakota$42,080350
New Hampshire$40,880690
Hawaii$40,370990
Illinois$40,2703,090
South Dakota$40,190320
Kansas$39,9601,580
Utah$39,9301,160
Iowa$39,6801,860
Arizona$39,6303,130
Wisconsin$39,5102,930
District of Columbia$39,460250
Nevada$39,4402,300
Wyoming$38,790220
Idaho$38,7701,570
Oklahoma$38,3801,570
New Jersey$38,2005,120
Nebraska$37,980680
North Carolina$37,9606,040
Ohio$37,8506,930
Virginia$37,7504,450
Pennsylvania$37,7405,230
Delaware$37,710490
Rhode Island$37,610n/a
Texas$37,26014,730
Georgia$37,0507,790
South Carolina$36,8102,550
Michigan$36,7105,050
West Virginia$36,660750
New Mexico$36,550880
Indiana$36,5102,610
Arkansas$36,2301,670
Florida$36,22014,360
Kentucky$35,8202,460
Louisiana$34,8602,360
Tennessee$34,5004,710
Mississippi$33,0401,760

How to become a visual merchandiser

BLS describes a typical path with three parts[7]:

In an ONET survey of 24 workers, 39% said a high school diploma or equivalent is required, 20% said some college courses, 18% said a bachelor's degree, 15% said an associate degree and 9% said a post-secondary certificate[18]. Survey answers like these come from a small group, so treat them as a rough picture. ONET places the job in Job Zone Three, which means previous skill, knowledge or experience is needed[19].

O*NET workers report job titles such as display specialist, in-store marketing associate, merchandiser and visual merchandising specialist[20].

What visual merchandisers do

O*NET describes the work as planning and building commercial displays, such as in store windows, store interiors and trade exhibitions[21]. Typical tasks include[22]:

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035[2]. That is from about 164,800 to 169,200 jobs, a gain of 4,400[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS expects about 17,200 openings a year on average[6]. Openings count new jobs and also jobs left by people who retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year about 4.4% of workers leave the labor force and 5.6% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay was below the all-occupation median, and the 90th percentile was $58,370[1][4][5]. Entry asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and short-term on-the-job training[7]. Growth is projected to be a little under the all-occupation rate, but BLS still expects many openings each year as workers leave the job[2][3][6]. The facts we have do not cover program costs, so check those locally.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a visual merchandiser make an hour?
The median was $18.94 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $14.79 and the 90th was $28.06[9].
What education do you need to be a visual merchandiser?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with short-term on-the-job training[7].
Is visual merchandiser a growing job?
BLS projects 2.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 17,200 openings a year[2][3][6].
What is the highest paying state for visual merchandisers?
Washington had the highest median pay at $48,780, ahead of California at $47,010 and Alaska at $46,530[14].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers in the US was $39,390 per year and $18.94 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 164,800 to 169,200 jobs (a change of +4,400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers: 10th percentile $30,760, 25th percentile $35,130, 75th percentile $47,220, 90th percentile $58,370. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 17,200 openings for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers was $42,830 per year and $20.59 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers: 10th percentile $14.79, 25th percentile $16.89, 75th percentile $22.70, 90th percentile $28.06. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 165,220 people were employed as Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS Employment Projections: 0.2% of Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  14. Median annual wage for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers jobs: California 17,840; Texas 14,730; Florida 14,360; New York 10,430; Georgia 7,790. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers (areas with at least 100 jobs): Vallejo, CA $58,170; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $55,960; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $54,530; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $50,580; Tuscaloosa, AL $48,940; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $48,900; Worcester, MA $48,560; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $48,130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 8,710 (median $45,980); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 7,430 (median $48,900); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 4,600 (median $38,630); Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA 4,340 (median $37,440); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,070 (median $37,650); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 2,790 (median $37,700). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  18. O*NET 27-1026.00 survey of workers (24 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 39%, Some College Courses 20%, Bachelor's Degree 18%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 15%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 27-1026.00: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 27-1026.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Decorator, Display Associate, Display Decorator, Display Specialist, In-Store Marketing Associate, Merchandiser, Visual Merchandiser (VM), Visual Merchandising Specialist. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET description of Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET task list for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers. O*NET OnLine
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers: 4.4% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.6% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.