Set and exhibit designers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,750 | $20.07 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Mean (average) | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| 90th percentile | $135,410 | $65.10 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Set and exhibit designers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 35 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $46,280 | $38,660 | $109,380 | 70 | 0.3 |
| Arkansas | $38,700 | $35,200 | $72,350 | 50 | 0.53 |
| California | $105,030 | $47,400 | $162,820 | 2,690 | 2.16 |
| Colorado | Data unavailable | 170 | 0.87 | ||
| Connecticut | $60,680 | $49,120 | $105,530 | 70 | 0.56 |
| District of Columbia | $76,900 | $47,600 | $118,290 | 190 | 3.93 |
| Florida | $60,750 | $45,670 | $101,030 | 740 | 1.09 |
| Georgia | $67,210 | $29,330 | $122,060 | 310 | 0.92 |
| Illinois | Data unavailable | 330 | 0.79 | ||
| Indiana | $72,200 | $44,540 | $93,700 | 110 | 0.51 |
| Iowa | $50,640 | $46,840 | $70,000 | 60 | 0.61 |
| Kentucky | $53,260 | $31,070 | $87,610 | 40 | 0.32 |
| Maryland | $80,540 | $47,110 | $114,340 | 420 | 2.2 |
| Massachusetts | $74,540 | $51,870 | $123,640 | 230 | 0.91 |
| Michigan | $50,910 | $31,200 | $73,710 | 140 | 0.47 |
| Minnesota | $66,090 | $49,290 | $84,670 | 150 | 0.73 |
| Missouri | $51,610 | $33,530 | $74,850 | 290 | 1.46 |
| Nebraska | $73,980 | $48,180 | $93,140 | 50 | 0.68 |
| Nevada | $50,860 | $34,930 | $101,950 | 180 | 1.74 |
| New Jersey | $76,380 | $47,400 | $112,570 | 220 | 0.74 |
| New Mexico | Data unavailable | 70 | 1.24 | ||
| New York | Data unavailable | 1,690 | 2.55 | ||
| North Carolina | $49,410 | $22,160 | $87,510 | ||
| Ohio | $54,560 | $23,760 | $92,020 | 290 | 0.77 |
| Oklahoma | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.39 | ||
| Oregon | $62,770 | $47,140 | $92,220 | 280 | 2.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,670 | $46,430 | $114,970 | 120 | 0.29 |
| Puerto Rico | $34,260 | $29,100 | $44,590 | ||
| South Carolina | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.34 | ||
| Tennessee | Data unavailable | 230 | 1.02 | ||
| Texas | $56,930 | $36,480 | $111,450 | 210 | 0.21 |
| Utah | $44,540 | $21,100 | $96,150 | 340 | 2.84 |
| Virginia | $58,650 | $41,600 | $104,010 | 120 | 0.43 |
| Washington | $77,230 | $53,880 | $164,070 | 170 | 0.69 |
| Wisconsin | Data unavailable | 50 | 0.27 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for set and exhibit designers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 66.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for set and exhibit designers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Design and Visual Communications, General CIP 50.0401
- Illustration CIP 50.0410
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology CIP 50.0502
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
- Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
Technology skills
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (in demand)
- Adobe Photoshop (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (in demand)
- Autodesk Revit (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Analysis, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Designer, Display Coordinator, Exhibit Coordinator, Exhibit Designer, Exhibit Preparator, Historical Society Window Dresser, Installations Designer, Projection Designer, Scenic Designer, Set Designer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do set and exhibit designers make?
The national median annual wage for set and exhibit designers was $75,240 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $41,750 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $135,410. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do set and exhibit designers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is set and exhibit designers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of set and exhibit designers to change +1.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay set and exhibit designers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were California ($105,030), Maryland ($80,540), Washington ($77,230). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.