Set and Exhibit Designers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for set and exhibit designers in the U.S. is $75,240 ($36.17 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $75,240
- Mean annual wage
- $83,160
- Median hourly wage
- $36.17
- Employment
- 10,630
10,630 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41,750 | $20.07 |
| 25th percentile | $52,830 | $25.40 |
| Median (50th) | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| 75th percentile | $104,030 | $50.01 |
| 90th percentile | $135,410 | $65.10 |
Highest-paying states for set and exhibit designers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,030 | 2,690 |
| Maryland | $80,540 | 420 |
| Washington | $77,230 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $76,900 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $76,380 | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $74,540 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $73,980 | 50 |
| Indiana | $72,200 | 110 |
| Georgia | $67,210 | 310 |
| Minnesota | $66,090 | 150 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $38,700 median annual wage
- Utah: $44,540 median annual wage
- Arizona: $46,280 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $49,410 median annual wage
- Iowa: $50,640 median annual wage
About this occupation
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Typical tasks
- Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.
- Design and produce displays and materials that can be used to decorate windows, interior displays, or event locations, such as streets and fairgrounds.
- Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.
- Select and purchase lumber and hardware necessary for set construction.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Incorporate security systems into exhibit layouts.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.1% |
| Some college, no degree | 16.1% |
| Associate's degree | 12.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 44.8% |
| Master's degree | 14.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 2.3% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Public Relations Specialists$74,750
- Coaches and Scouts$47,320
- Graphic Designers$62,960
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$39,390
- Producers and Directors$90,360
- Editors$77,920
- Interior Designers$67,190
- Audio and Video Technicians$58,100
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.