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How to hire a visual merchandiser

Visual merchandiser hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring visual merchandisers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a visual merchandiser is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new visual merchandiser to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a visual merchandiser, step by step

To hire a visual merchandiser, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a visual merchandiser:

Here's a step-by-step visual merchandiser hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a visual merchandiser job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new visual merchandiser
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a visual merchandiser do?

A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans. They must also be knowledgeable on product information to assist customers with their inquiries and concerns. Visual merchandisers should be creative in setting up the uniformity of the store's visuals within the budget goals. The designs must be appealing enough to drive the customers around the premises, potentially generating revenues and increasing profitability.

Learn more about the specifics of what a visual merchandiser does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a visual merchandiser, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect visual merchandiser also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

    This list presents visual merchandiser salaries for various positions.

    Type of Visual MerchandiserDescriptionHourly rate
    Visual MerchandiserA Visual Merchandiser creates attractive visual displays and strategies to promote retail brands, products, and services. They conduct research on current and future trends in design and lifestyle, as well as revise and present design ideas with assistant merchandisers.$12-25
    Production ArtistA production artist is responsible for managing digital content, meeting clients' standard specifications and requests for successful project completion. Production artists must have computer proficiency, especially on utilizing various software tools and applications to create illustrations and layouts... Show more$19-45
    Graphic ArtistA graphic artist is either an illustrator or an animator who creates art work that will be used in graphic projects such as advertisements, posters, or even book covers. Although a graphic artist has his/her own style of artwork, he/she may be often commissioned to create art specifically for a particular project... Show more$16-40
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Ladders
    • Sales Floor
    • Store Management
    • Drive Sales
    • Kids
    • Visual Standards
    • Store Sales
    • Excellent Interpersonal
    • Loss Prevention
    • Stock Room
    • Merchandise Presentation
    • Basic Math
    • Store Environment
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage backroom/stock room inventory by organizing pallets, stacking and storing product inventory.
    • Provide support to all meeting and VTC rooms.
    • Merchandise mens, ladies, kids, and accessories departments.
    • Operate audio board, PowerPoint, camera, and video switcher.
    • Assist outside vendor merchandisers (NIKE) with execution of planograms.
    • Assist with prop development and production for the 5 NYC flagship stores.
    More visual merchandiser duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your visual merchandiser job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A visual merchandiser salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a visual merchandiser in Georgia may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level visual merchandiser usually earns less than a senior-level visual merchandiser. Additionally, a visual merchandiser with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average visual merchandiser salary

    $38,037yearly

    $18.29 hourly rate

    Entry-level visual merchandiser salary
    $27,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 5, 2025

    Average visual merchandiser salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$51,334$25
    2Pennsylvania$49,005$24
    3California$48,447$23
    4Wisconsin$45,522$22
    5New Jersey$44,615$21
    6Massachusetts$43,860$21
    7Nevada$43,393$21
    8Arizona$41,921$20
    9Washington$41,534$20
    10Ohio$39,982$19
    11Illinois$38,655$19
    12Oregon$37,983$18
    13Florida$37,255$18
    14Utah$37,216$18
    15Colorado$36,832$18
    16Missouri$36,449$18
    17Nebraska$36,129$17
    18Texas$35,807$17
    19Iowa$35,190$17
    20Minnesota$34,939$17

    Average visual merchandiser salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1RH$71,994$34.6186
    2Tiffany & Co.$56,977$27.392
    3Forever 21$54,867$26.38
    4Value City Furniture$49,970$24.026
    5The Donna Karan Company LLC$47,696$22.93
    6Burberry$46,926$22.56
    7Bassett Furniture Industries$46,859$22.5321
    8Frognet$44,616$21.45
    9Crocs$43,788$21.05
    10H&M International$42,509$20.44
    11Marlo Furniture$42,071$20.23
    12Louis Vuitton$41,710$20.05
    13Tory Burch$41,470$19.94
    14IKEA North America Services, LLC$41,434$19.921
    15ThirdChannel$41,364$19.8949
    16Kering Americas Inc$41,349$19.884
    17Furniture Mart USA$41,234$19.827
    18Retail$41,154$19.79
    19LoLa Travel$41,028$19.73
    20HM Holding Company$40,959$19.69
  4. Writing a visual merchandiser job description

    A visual merchandiser job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a visual merchandiser job description:

    Visual merchandiser job description example

    Chanel Norway is currently looking for a Visual Merchandiser with a passion for creating attractive visual displays, while ensuring the integrity of the brand.

    The job of a Visual Merchandiser requires a mixture of artistic, strategic and practical skills. The goal is to use visual merchandising to convert window shoppers into prospects, drive branding and sales objectives and maximize profitability.
    The position is based in Oslo and reports hierarchically to the Fashion Boutique Director.

    The Impact You Can Create At CHANEL
    Assist the Boutique Director in implementation and communication of all visual direction regarding windows, installations, display standards, merchandise direction within the boutique.Oversee all VM Operations in partnership with Boutique Management to ensure back stock is organized and well maintained and stay up-to-date with the arrival of new deliveries.Manage all window installations according to Paris Europe VM and Image Departments guidelines.Style mannequins and implement floor sets with exceptional skill, creating cohesive, exciting fashion stories Collaborate with Paris Image and Europe VM Departments on the design and production of all window and interior related décors.

    You Are Energized By
    The history and heritage of The House of CHANELPresenting a positive energy and foster a spirit of team collaboration Passionately upholding VM standards, objectives and vision to always offer the best client and styling experience.Working effectively and efficiently within the team, sharing ideas and contributing to a positive morale

    Position Requirements
    Must have at least 2-4 years of proven work experience in Visual Merchandising Associate or related position.Art, Architecture or Interior Design Education. Excellent oral and written communication skills.Self-starter with high level of initiative and a strong sense of ownership and urgency Solid computer skills including Microsoft Office (Excel, Outlook, and proficiency in Word) and Adobe Creative Suite (In Design, and Photoshop).Must possess strong organizational and time management skills. Strong Project Managing experience and flexibility to adapt to change

    ABOUT CHANEL
    You will become part of an affiliate established in 2016, comprising approximately 110 people across Scandinavia. At CHANEL we offer a unique working environment where you are encouraged to better understand the brand, the business, and your motivation. At CHANEL, the foundation of the success starts with the employees who defend the values of excellence, creativity, style, and modernity that ensured the originality of Coco Chanel in her time and continue to do so today. Within CHANEL, a true "culture of quality" exists where everyone shares the values of the Brand that they all are proud to represent. CHANEL is a leading luxury goods brand supporting three key businesses: Fashion; Watches and Fine Jewelry; Fragrance and Beauty. Read more on www.chanel.com.
  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find visual merchandisers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your visual merchandiser job on Zippia to find and recruit visual merchandiser candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with visual merchandiser candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new visual merchandiser

    Once you've decided on a perfect visual merchandiser candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

    It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new visual merchandiser. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a visual merchandiser?

Before you start to hire visual merchandisers, it pays to consider both the one-off costs like recruitment, job promotion, and onboarding, as well as the ongoing costs of an employee's salary and benefits. While most companies that hire visual merchandisers pay close attention to the initial cost of hiring, ongoing costs are much more significant in the long run.

You can expect to pay around $38,037 per year for a visual merchandiser, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for visual merchandisers in the US typically range between $12 and $25 an hour.

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