How much does a Set and Exhibit Designers make?

The median annual wage for Set and Exhibit Designers is $75,240 ($36 per hour). Pay ranges from about $41,750 at the 10th percentile to $135,410 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Set and Exhibit Designers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $83,160, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Set and Exhibit Designerss the most?

California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $105,030.

Is Set and Exhibit Designers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 11K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Set and Exhibit Designers do?

Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.; 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..

Set and Exhibit Designers Salary

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 11K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$75,240

Median hourly

$36

Average annual

$83,160

Typical range

$41,750–$135,410

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$41,750

25th$52,830

Median$75,240

75th$104,030

90th$135,410

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Set and Exhibit Designers is $75,240 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $36 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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..

Most earn between $41,750 and $135,410 a year. There are roughly 11K people employed as set and exhibit designers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Set and Exhibit Designers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $36.17
Daily: $289
Weekly: $1,447
Bi-weekly: $2,894
Monthly: $6,270
Annual: $75,240

$75,240 a year is around the 50th percentile for Set and Exhibit Designerss. The median is $75,240.

Set and Exhibit Designers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$20.10	$41,750
25th percentile	$25.40	$52,830
Median	$36.20	$75,240
75th percentile	$50.00	$104,030
90th percentile	$65.10	$135,410
Average (mean)	$40.00	$83,160
Employment	10,630 people

Key skills

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Operations Analysis
Time Management
Coordination
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Writing

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1California$105,030
2Maryland$80,540
3Washington$77,230
4District of Columbia$76,900
5New Jersey$76,380
6Massachusetts$74,540
7Nebraska$73,980
8Indiana$72,200
9Georgia$67,210
10Minnesota$66,090
11Oregon$62,770
12Florida$60,750

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$109,120
2Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$106,880
3Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$92,020
4New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$86,880
5Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$83,000
6Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$82,960
7Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$80,960
8Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$80,280
9Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$77,230
10San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$76,900
11Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$76,350
12Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$74,710

Related job titles

Employers advertise Set and Exhibit Designers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Set and Exhibit Designers does

Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
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.
Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Set and Exhibit Designers make?: The median annual wage for Set and Exhibit Designers is $75,240 ($36 per hour). Pay ranges from about $41,750 at the 10th percentile to $135,410 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Set and Exhibit Designers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $83,160, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Set and Exhibit Designerss the most?: California has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $105,030.
Is Set and Exhibit Designers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 11K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Set and Exhibit Designers do?: Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.; 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..