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Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary in the United States

How much does a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II in the United States is $64,460 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,349
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $59,390 to $71,730
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54,774
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salaries

A Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • In-Store Display Merchandiser I (0-2 years): $45,239
  • Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II (2-4 years): $64,459
  • In-Store Merchandising Display Manager (4-5 years): $102,035
  • Retail Visual Merchandising Senior Manager (5+ years): $163,097
  • Vice President of Visual Merchandising (5+ years): $256,908
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
In-Store Display Merchandiser I0-2 years$45,239
Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II2-4 years$64,459
In-Store Merchandising Display Manager4-5 years$102,035
Retail Visual Merchandising Senior Manager5+ years$163,097
Vice President of Visual Merchandising5+ years$256,908
View as Graph

How Do Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist IIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $71,370.
  • California: $71,100.
  • Massachusetts: $70,160.

Top Paying Cities for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist IIs

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $81,310
  • San Francisco: $80,420
  • Oakland: $78,720

What Skills Can Increase a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 10.63% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Onboarding (Mentioned in 1.58% Job Postings): Onboarding, also known as organizational socialization, is management jargon first created in the 1970's that refers to the mechanism through which new employees acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors in order to become effective organizational members and insiders. It is the process of integrating a new employee into the organization and its culture. Tactics used in this process include formal meetings, lectures, videos, printed materials, or computer-based orientations to introduce newcomers to their new jobs and organizations. Research has demonstrated that these socialization techniques lead to positive outcomes for new employees such as higher job satisfaction, better job performance, greater organizational commitment, and reduction in occupational stress and intent to quit.. These outcomes are particularly important to an organization looking to retain a competitive advantage in an increasingly mobile and globalized workforce. In the United States, for example, up to 25% of workers are organizational newcomers engaged in an onboarding process. The term induction is used instead in regions such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and parts of Europe. This is known in some parts of the world as training.
  • KPI (Mentioned in 0.55% Job Postings): KPI stands for key performance indicator, a quantifiable measure of performance over time for a specific objective.
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 10.63%
Onboarding 1.58%
KPI 0.55%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's salary.

  • Written Communication: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Written Communication $78,641
22%
Onboarding $76,707
19%
Coordination $72,840
13%
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Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,802. While startup companies pay approximate $59,045.

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $59,045
Growth Stage 51~500 $62,451
Established 501~5000 $67,408
Enterprise 5000+ $69,802

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Media and Hospitality & Leisure sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Media$77,352$37.020%
Hospitality & Leisure$70,906$34.010%

How Education impacts a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist IIs enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II with a Associate's Degree is between $57,012 and $65,616).

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 16.6%
Associates 19.0%
Bachelors 61.2%
Masters 2.4%
Doctorate 0.1%
View as Graph

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$59,390
Average $64,460/year
$71,730
$4,949
Average $5,372/month
$5,978
$1,142
Average $1,240/week
$1,379
$29
Average $31/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $71,730 $5,978 $1,379 $34
Average $64,460 $5,372 $1,240 $31
25th Percentile $59,390 $4,949 $1,142 $29

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II Salary Growth & Career Path

Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II

Next Role

Advancement

For a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the In-Store Display Merchandiser III role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $76,700 - a projected growth of 19% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II

Here are companies hiring for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II?

The Media industry offers the highest average compensation for Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist II roles, with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.

2. Who pays the most for visual merchandisers?

The best companies for visual merchandisers to work for in 2024 are Forever 21 and Macy's. If you're seeking top pay, consider RH, offering a median salary of $64,640, or Tiffany & Co. with a median salary of $56,977. Overall, salaries for retail visual merchandising specialists range from $49,200 to $81,850, depending on experience and location.

3. What is the career path of a visual merchandiser?

To become a visual merchandiser, a high school diploma or equivalent is essential, with many employers favoring advanced degrees in fashion, graphic design, or business. On-the-job training is typically required to grasp the brand's image and marketing message. Salaries for this role range from $49,200 to $81,850, with a median salary of $64,640.

4. How much do Louis Vuitton visual merchandising managers make?

Visual Merchandising Specialists at Louis Vuitton in the United States can expect a salary range from $49,200 to $81,850, with a median salary of approximately $64,640. This reflects the competitive compensation for roles in visual merchandising within the retail sector.

5. Is merchandising a stressful job?

Merchandising can be a stressful job due to the fast-paced nature of the retail industry. Retail Visual Merchandising Specialists face challenges from changing consumer demands, tight deadlines, and high sales targets. However, with a salary range from $49,200 to $81,850, the financial rewards can be significant, helping to offset some of the stress involved.

6. How much does a VM make at Target?

A Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist at Target typically earns between $49,200 and $81,850 annually, with a median salary of around $64,640. Recent reports indicate salaries for Visual Merchandisers with 1-3 years of experience range from approximately $43,000 to $53,000, depending on location.

7. What is the highest salary for visual merchandising?

The highest salary for a Retail Visual Merchandising Specialist is $81,850 per year. In this role, you design and create store displays, determining how products are organized and showcased. The salary range for this position typically starts at $49,200, with a midpoint of $64,640, reflecting the importance of effective visual merchandising in retail.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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