Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer Salary in Chicago, IL
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $40,250 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,673 take-home, or $2,723 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,650
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,496
- Medicare (1.45%)$584
- Illinois income tax$1,848
- Take-home pay$32,673
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,380 | $16.53 | $28,247 | $2,354 |
| 25th percentile | $36,060 | $17.34 | $29,514 | $2,460 |
| Median (50th) | $40,250 | $19.35 | $32,673 | $2,723 |
| 75th percentile | $46,080 | $22.15 | $37,069 | $3,089 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $68,090 | $32.74 | $53,506 | $4,459 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,250 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median merchandise displayer and window trimmer's $32,673 take-home pay has the buying power of $31,539 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for merchandise displayers and window trimmers, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $48,900 | $39,852 | $35,091 |
| 2 | Denver, CO | $44,970 | $37,043 | $35,018 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $45,980 | $37,239 | $33,083 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $37,700 | $32,472 | $32,923 |
| 5 | Phoenix, AZ | $40,100 | $33,607 | $32,528 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $38,630 | $33,219 | $32,223 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $40,250 | $32,673 | $31,539 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $37,440 | $30,943 | $30,925 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: merchandise displayers and window trimmers
Plan and erect commercial displays, such as those in windows and interiors of retail stores and at trade exhibitions.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a merchandise displayer and window trimmer make in Chicago, IL?
The median merchandise displayer and window trimmer salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $40,250 a year, or about $19.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,060 and $46,080.
What is a merchandise displayer and window trimmer’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $40,250 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $32,673 a year ($2,723 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,848 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a merchandise displayer and window trimmer?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $39,390. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $31,539 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #7 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a merchandise displayer and window trimmer afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 56% of a median merchandise displayer and window trimmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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