Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers Salary
The median pay for a merchandise displayers and window trimmers in Iowa is $39,680/year ($19.08/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $44,655 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,064/month, about 39.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Iowa?
About merchandise displayers and window trimmers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Merchandise displayers and window trimmers pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $40K locally vs. $39K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,064/month, which is 39.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level merchandise displayers and window trimmers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $43K | +9% | 590 |
| Dubuque | $43K | +7% | 90 |
| Sioux City | $40K | +0% | 70 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $40K | +0% | 210 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $39K | -2% | 90 |
| Cedar Rapids | $39K | -2% | 230 |
| Iowa City | $38K | -5% | 80 |
| Ames | $37K | -7% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track merchandise displayers and window trimmers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a merchandise displayers and window trimmer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 39.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/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 Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new merchandise displayers and window trimmers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,805/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $40K locally vs. $39K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for merchandise displayers and window trimmers?
Iowa pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $39K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do merchandise displayers and window trimmers make in Iowa?
The median is $39,680 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,080, and experienced merchandise displayers and window trimmers can clear $56,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,674/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 39.8% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median merchandise displayers and window trimmers salary is worth about $44,655 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.