# Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers

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

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/merchandise-displayers-and-window-trimmers
- SOC code: 27-1026.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $39,390 (10th percentile $30,760, 90th percentile $58,370)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +2.7%
- Openings a year: 17,200
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ARE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 58 |
| Investigative (I) | 9 |
| Artistic (A) | 62 |
| Social (S) | 20 |
| Enterprising (E) | 55 |
| Conventional (C) | 35 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 82/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 82/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 80/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 78/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 73/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 62/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Speaking, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, English Language, Administration and Management, Design, Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Mathematics, Personnel and Human Resources, Education and Training

## Also called

Apparel Merchandiser, Decorator, Display Artist, Display Associate, Display Coordinator, Display Decorator, Display Designer, Display Specialist, Display Trimmer, Draper

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5219) (CIP 5219, 189 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Saint Joseph's University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-joseph-s-university-2308) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $62,952 | $80,764 | $24,335 |
| [Northwood University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwood-university-1968) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $74,429 | $77,647 | $21,540 |
| [Marist College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/marist-college-1597) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $56,976 | $74,534 | $25,000 |
| [Fashion Institute of Technology FIT](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fashion-institute-of-technology-fit-942) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $55,547 | $70,727 | $19,500 |
| [Lasell University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lasell-university-1453) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $50,132 | $69,156 | $27,000 |
| [Baylor University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/baylor-university-194) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $52,622 | $67,066 | not reported |
| [LIM College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lim-college-1484) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $53,819 | $66,968 | $23,625 |
| [Texas Christian University TCU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-christian-university-tcu-2701) | Specialized Sales, Merchandising and  Marketing Operations | $51,452 | $66,108 | $21,500 |

## Related careers

- [Retail Salespersons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/retail-salespersons): $35,410 median pay
- [Advertising Sales Agents](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/advertising-sales-agents): $64,820 median pay
- [Fashion Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fashion-designers): $80,960 median pay
- [Demonstrators and Product Promoters](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/demonstrators-and-product-promoters): $39,320 median pay
- [Interior Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/interior-designers): $67,190 median pay
- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.