Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a merchandise displayers and window trimmers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $40,250/year ($19.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $68K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $38,855 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 64.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $40K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About merchandise displayers and window trimmers
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 66% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for merchandise displayers and window trimmers in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $40K | $44K |
| Rockford | $36K | $40K |
| Springfield | $37K | $40K |
| Decatur | $38K | $43K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level merchandise displayers and window trimmers (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $68K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $49K | +24% | 2,550 |
| California | $47K | +19% | 17,840 |
| Alaska | $47K | +18% | 540 |
| Maine | $46K | +16% | 910 |
| Minnesota | $46K | +16% | 1,820 |
| Oregon | $45K | +15% | 1,220 |
| Vermont | $45K | +14% | 180 |
| Montana | $44K | +11% | 580 |
| New York | $44K | +11% | 10,430 |
| Maryland | $43K | +10% | 1,920 |
| Massachusetts | $43K | +10% | 3,360 |
| Colorado | $43K | +10% | 3,650 |
| Missouri | $43K | +9% | 2,700 |
| Alabama | $43K | +9% | 2,900 |
| Connecticut | $42K | +8% | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $42K | +7% | 350 |
| New Hampshire | $41K | +4% | 690 |
| Hawaii | $40K | +2% | 990 |
| Illinois | $40K | +2% | 3,090 |
| South Dakota | $40K | +2% | 320 |
| Kansas | $40K | +1% | 1,580 |
| Utah | $40K | +1% | 1,160 |
| Iowa | $40K | +1% | 1,860 |
| Arizona | $40K | +1% | 3,130 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | +0% | 2,930 |
| District of Columbia | $39K | +0% | 250 |
| Nevada | $39K | +0% | 2,300 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -2% | 220 |
| Idaho | $39K | -2% | 1,570 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -3% | 1,570 |
| New Jersey | $38K | -3% | 5,120 |
| Nebraska | $38K | -4% | 680 |
| North Carolina | $38K | -4% | 6,040 |
| Ohio | $38K | -4% | 6,930 |
| Virginia | $38K | -4% | 4,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $38K | -4% | 5,230 |
| Delaware | $38K | -4% | 490 |
| Rhode Island | $38K | -5% | N/A |
| Texas | $37K | -5% | 14,730 |
| Georgia | $37K | -6% | 7,790 |
| South Carolina | $37K | -7% | 2,550 |
| Michigan | $37K | -7% | 5,050 |
| West Virginia | $37K | -7% | 750 |
| New Mexico | $37K | -7% | 880 |
| Indiana | $37K | -7% | 2,610 |
| Arkansas | $36K | -8% | 1,670 |
| Florida | $36K | -8% | 14,360 |
| Kentucky | $36K | -9% | 2,460 |
| Louisiana | $35K | -12% | 2,360 |
| Tennessee | $35K | -12% | 4,710 |
| Mississippi | $33K | -16% | 1,760 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track merchandise displayers and window trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a merchandise displayers and window trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 66% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for merchandise displayers and window trimmers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new merchandise displayers and window trimmers typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,063/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 86% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is merchandise displayers and window trimmer a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for merchandise displayers and window trimmers?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $39K — below the national median.
How much do merchandise displayers and window trimmers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $40,250 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,380, and experienced merchandise displayers and window trimmers can clear $68,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,699/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 66% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a merchandise displayers and window trimmers salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median merchandise displayers and window trimmers salary is worth about $38,855 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do merchandise displayers and window trimmers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.