Average Salary for Set and Exhibit Designers
SOC 27-1027 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Set and Exhibit Designers in the United States is $66,280 ($31.87/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $35,990 at the 10th percentile to $129,420 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 10,850 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 33.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$66,280
Mean Annual
$78,450
10th Pct
$35,990
75th Pct
$100,020
Employment
10,850
Salary Distribution
$36k
10th
$49k
25th
$66k
Median
$100k
75th
$129k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $106,580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $106,410 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,020 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,090 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $85,260 |
| Rochester, NY | $82,670 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,320 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $78,200 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,230 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,460 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $67,360 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $66,800 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,280 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $65,810 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,920 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| California | $100,020 |
| Washington | $78,320 |
| Maryland | $78,200 |
| Massachusetts | $73,290 |
| Illinois | $71,340 |
| New Jersey | $67,870 |
| Colorado | $66,050 |
| Minnesota | $65,770 |
| District of Columbia | $61,800 |
| Oregon | $61,240 |
| Louisiana | $60,790 |
| Connecticut | $57,830 |
| Missouri | $56,100 |
| Indiana | $55,950 |
| Nebraska | $54,880 |
| Texas | $54,220 |
| Ohio | $52,870 |
| Georgia | $52,710 |
| New Mexico | $51,810 |
| Virginia | $51,120 |
| Arizona | $51,120 |
| Nevada | $49,700 |
| Michigan | $49,700 |
| Florida | $49,250 |
| Iowa | $48,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,010 |
| Oklahoma | $46,280 |
| Wisconsin | $46,100 |
| North Carolina | $45,880 |
| Tennessee | $45,840 |
| Kentucky | $44,340 |
| Arkansas | $36,560 |
| Utah | $35,230 |
| Kansas | $16,730 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Set and Exhibit Designers broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services | $107,620 |
| Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $99,860 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries | $99,860 |
| Information | $99,860 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $91,560 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $91,560 |
| Wholesale Trade | $88,370 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $88,370 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | $88,370 |
| Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services | $88,200 |
| Employment Services | $87,320 |
| Temporary Help Services | $86,050 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $83,530 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $83,530 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers | $80,890 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $76,490 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $76,490 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $68,530 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $68,530 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $68,530 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $67,900 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,640 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,640 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $67,640 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $66,280 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $66,280 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $63,170 |
| Photographic Services | $63,170 |
| Broadcasting and Content Providers | $62,410 |
| Other Support Services | $61,990 |
| Performing Arts Companies | $61,930 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | $61,790 |
| Specialized Design Services | $60,260 |
| Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries | $59,040 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events | $58,270 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $57,110 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $57,020 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $57,020 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $57,020 |
| Junior Colleges | $56,650 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $55,460 |
| Retail Trade | $54,280 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $52,970 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $52,970 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $52,970 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $52,210 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations | $51,720 |
| Television Broadcasting Stations | $51,720 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,700 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,620 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $48,740 |
| Educational Services | $46,520 |
| Educational Services | $46,280 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $46,280 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $44,340 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $44,180 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $41,960 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $20,090 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $66,280 |
| 2023 | $59,490 |
| 2022 | $59,990 |
| 2021 | $54,860 |
| 2020 | $58,180 |
| 2019 | $54,600 |
| 2018 | $54,270 |
| 2017 | $53,090 |
| 2016 | $50,990 |
| 2015 | $49,530 |
| 2014 | $49,810 |