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Visual Merchandising Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

As a Visual Merchandising Specialist, you'll be responsible for performing installations as part of remodels, vendor-supported activities, decommissions, disaster recovery and other company ...

As a Visual Merchandising Specialist, you'll be responsible for performing installations as part of remodels, vendor-supported activities, decommissions, disaster recovery and other company ...

Visual Merchandising Specialist

Skokie, IL · On-site

$15.40 - $21.76/hr

As a Visual Merchandising Specialist, you'll be responsible for performing installations as part of remodels, vendor-supported activities, decommissions, disaster recovery and other company ...

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Visual Merchandising information

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How much do visual merchandising jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for visual merchandising in Chicago, IL is $22.25, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.86 and $25.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Do visual merchandisers get paid well?

Visual merchandisers' salaries vary depending on experience, location, and employer, but they generally earn a median annual wage that is comparable to retail or marketing roles. Experienced professionals with specialized skills or working in high-cost areas can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by bonuses or commissions. Overall, the pay is considered moderate within the retail and marketing industries.

What is a visual merchandiser job description?

A visual merchandiser is responsible for creating attractive product displays to enhance the shopping experience and increase sales. They plan and implement store layouts, select color schemes, and use tools like signage and props to showcase products effectively. Strong creativity, attention to detail, and knowledge of retail trends are essential for this role.

What is visual merchandising?

Visual merchandising is the practice of designing and arranging retail spaces, displays, and product placements to enhance the shopping experience and drive sales. Visual merchandisers use a combination of color, lighting, signage, and layout to attract customers and communicate brand identity. Their work aims to make products more appealing and accessible, ensuring that the store environment encourages purchases. This role requires creativity, an eye for design, and an understanding of consumer behavior.

What is the difference between Visual Merchandising vs Visual Merchandiser?

AspectVisual MerchandisingVisual Merchandiser
Role FocusDevelops overall visual strategies and concepts for retail displaysExecutes visual displays and setups based on strategies
ResponsibilitiesDesigns store layouts, plans, and visual themesBuilds and arranges displays, manages visual presentation
CredentialsOften requires design or retail experience, certifications varyTypically needs retail or design experience, sometimes certifications
Work EnvironmentOffice and store environments, collaborative with marketing teamsPrimarily in retail stores, hands-on display work

Visual Merchandising involves creating the overall visual strategy for retail spaces, while a Visual Merchandiser focuses on implementing and building those visual displays on the ground. Both roles are essential in retail branding and customer experience, but they differ in scope and responsibilities.

What does a visual merchandiser actually do?

A visual merchandiser designs and arranges product displays in retail stores to attract customers and increase sales. They create appealing layouts, select color schemes, and use signage or props, often utilizing tools like design software, to enhance the store's visual appeal and brand presentation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Visual Merchandiser, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Visual Merchandiser, you need a strong sense of design, creativity, and an understanding of retail marketing principles, often supported by a degree in visual merchandising, design, or related fields. Familiarity with design software such as Adobe Creative Suite, planogram systems, and point-of-sale analytics tools is typically required. Strong communication, attention to detail, and time management skills help individuals effectively execute displays and collaborate with store teams. These skills are crucial for creating visually compelling environments that attract customers and drive sales.

How does a Visual Merchandiser typically collaborate with store management and sales teams to optimize product displays?

Visual Merchandisers work closely with store managers and sales associates to ensure that product displays align with sales strategies and promotional campaigns. Regular communication helps them understand which products need to be featured prominently and which layouts drive customer engagement. They often coordinate with the sales team to gather feedback on customer preferences and adjust displays accordingly. This collaborative approach not only enhances the shopping experience but also supports overall store performance and sales goals.

Which merchandiser pays the most?

In visual merchandising, senior or lead merchandisers, especially those working for large retail chains or luxury brands, tend to earn the highest salaries. Factors such as experience, location, and the complexity of the store environment influence compensation, with specialized skills and certifications potentially increasing earning potential.
What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Merchandising jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Visual Merchandising jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What job categories do people searching Visual Merchandising jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Visual Merchandising jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Visual Merchandising jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Visual Merchandising job openings:
Infographic showing various Visual Merchandising job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 31% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $46,290 per year, or $22.3 per hour.

Manager Visual Merchandising

Ulta Beauty, Inc.

Bolingbrook, IL • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Ulta Beauty rating

6.1

Company rating: 6.1 out of 10

Based on 1,008 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 24 rated health and beauty retailers


Job description


OVERVIEW

Discover greater levels of performance. With over 1,400 stores throughout the U.S., Ulta Beauty is revolutionizing the beauty retail experience. With new stores coming online on a continual basis and the re-engineering of existing locations with the latest design and technological advancements for heightened guest experiences, we’re not just growing, we’re thriving. Through consistent innovation and a bold commitment to reimagination. If you want the opportunity to build something strategic, to take ownership of your career trajectory, to apply your passion to operational excellence, Ulta Beauty provides the kind of stability and support few organizations can match. So be curious. Be flexible. Be more than you thought possible. The future is yours at Ulta Beauty.

THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE 

*Ulta “FlexWork” – three (3) days in office every other week (bi-weekly) with the remainder remote

This role is responsible for developing and activating the holistic visual merchandising strategies for all Ulta Beauty categories, primarily focused on branded fixture display development. Acting as the voice of the store experience for this category, this role will act as the strategic partner to Merchants and Brand partners to translate business and brand strategies into fully integrated visual merchandising programs. Key focus will be upon creating a consistent signature for the department that clearly relates to the overall store’s experience standards, ensuring that all visual presentations fully synthesize the optimal combination of product presentation, graphic communication, guest desirability, and ease of shopping. The role will partner closely with Creative, Merchants, planogramming teams, retail operations teams, and store design to ensure concepts are taken from development into production and store-level execution.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY:

  1. Develop department-wide visual merchandising approaches that optimally manifest the strategies for all Ulta Beauty categories.
  2. Manage a team of visual merchandising analysts in their development of visual programs, seamlessly merging planograms with fixturing and graphic elements and maintaining a holistic guest experience across the department.
  3. Partner closely with Merchants and Space Planning teams to translate business and brand strategies into consistent and compelling visual merchandising strategies.
  4. Partner with Ulta Beauty Collection to develop best in class visual merchandising expressions for our namesake brand.
  5. Work in partnership with Store Design & Experience to document project development and manage timeliness from brief through store execution.
  6. Oversee the branded fixture development for all beauty categories, providing compelling individual presentations for each brand while preserving the consistency of guest experience and overall visual presentation standards.
  7. Integrate transition planning into the overall departmental vision, collaborating with merchants, creative operations and brands to ensure execution consistent with Ulta and brand objectives.
  8. Develop visual merchandising directives for stores that clearly convey visual merchandising objectives, ensure consistency of execution, and anticipate crucial details required by store teams to bring visual programs to life as envisioned.
  9. Maintain a high-level awareness of upcoming strategies and beauty trend knowledge to anticipate required design development.

#LI-JR1

#LI-Hybrid

THE ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS 

  • Minimum 8 years of experience within corporate visual merchandising organizations or design focused retail design houses, optimally complimented with in-store working experience.
  • Proficiency in visual merchandising, product merchandising, and in-store implementation.
  • Undergraduate degree in relevant fields (Marketing, Design, Visual Merchandising, Project Management) and/or equivalent field experience focused on visual merchandising is an advantage.
  • Depth of experience with the interconnection between store fixtures, graphic communication, product merchandising and store operations.
  • Ability to work through prototypes and sample store set-ups in mock store environments and to work with suppliers on production requirements.
  • Ability to lead and influence diverse partners to scope projects, lead change management, and build comprehensive programs for launches and updates.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills to convey project concepts, statuses and presentation standards to a variety of partners.
  • Fluency in software programs as required to visualize and communicate concepts, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Monday.com and project management tools.
  • Minimum 3+ years of experience managing and developing teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
  • Proven ability to lead, coach, and hold teams accountable while fostering a collaborative and empowered team culture.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, create structure, and drive solutions in complex environments.
  • Experience building and maintaining relationships with brands and vendors, including navigating challenging dynamics.

The pay range for this position is $90,800.00 - $119,200.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company's bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

ABOUT

At Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA), the possibilities are beautiful. Ulta Beauty is the largest North American beauty retailer and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin care products, hair care products and salon services. We bring possibilities to life through the power of beauty each and every day in our stores and online with more than 25,000 products from approximately 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including Ulta Beauty’s own private label. Ulta Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring—hair, skin, brow, and make-up services.

We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with arrest records, conviction records, or other criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of any applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.

Qualifications:

THE ESSENTIALS OF SUCCESS 

  • Minimum 8 years of experience within corporate visual merchandising organizations or design focused retail design houses, optimally complimented with in-store working experience.
  • Proficiency in visual merchandising, product merchandising, and in-store implementation.
  • Undergraduate degree in relevant fields (Marketing, Design, Visual Merchandising, Project Management) and/or equivalent field experience focused on visual merchandising is an advantage.
  • Depth of experience with the interconnection between store fixtures, graphic communication, product merchandising and store operations.
  • Ability to work through prototypes and sample store set-ups in mock store environments and to work with suppliers on production requirements.
  • Ability to lead and influence diverse partners to scope projects, lead change management, and build comprehensive programs for launches and updates.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills to convey project concepts, statuses and presentation standards to a variety of partners.
  • Fluency in software programs as required to visualize and communicate concepts, such as Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Monday.com and project management tools.
  • Minimum 3+ years of experience managing and developing teams in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
  • Proven ability to lead, coach, and hold teams accountable while fostering a collaborative and empowered team culture.
  • Demonstrated ability to identify opportunities, create structure, and drive solutions in complex environments.
  • Experience building and maintaining relationships with brands and vendors, including navigating challenging dynamics.
Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

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