Art and Design Workers

How to become a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer

Official title: Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers

Also called: Decorator, Display Associate, Display Decorator, Display Specialist, In-Store Marketing Associate, Merchandiser, Visual Merchandiser (VM), Visual Merchandising Specialist

Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Decorator (Any Ind).
Apprenticeship: Displayer, Merchandise.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $39,390 a year The middle half earn $35,130 to $47,220.
About 164,800 people work in this job now, and about 169,200 are projected by 2035. (+2.7%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer?

Ways in include: Decorator (Any Ind).

How much does a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $39,390 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $35,130 to $47,220.

Is a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 164,800 to about 169,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer?

Not always. 34% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Decorator (Any Ind).

Will AI change the work of a Merchandise Displayer or Window Trimmer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.