Set and Exhibit Designers
Set and Exhibit Designers (SOC 27-1027) earn a median $75,240 a year ($36.17 an hour) in the United States, with 10,630 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What set and exhibit designers do
Set and exhibit designers build the look of exhibits and of sets for theater, film, video, and television productions. They may study scripts, confer with directors, and research architectural styles appropriate to the period depicted. They develop set designs from scripts, budgets, research, and available resources, read scripts to learn what location, set, and design is required, and draft rough and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans and scenery. They prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits with details of construction, layout, and materials, plus diagrams for matters such as special effects or lighting, and confer with clients and staff about exhibit space and proposed themes. They submit plans for approval, adapt them to serve their intended purposes, and attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information about sets. Alternate titles include exhibit designer, event designer, and exhibit preparator. Merchandise displayers, who arrange retail displays, are classified separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is a bachelor's degree.
Also called: Designer, Display Coordinator, Display Designer, Event Decorator, Event Designer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.07 | $25.40 | $36.17 | $50.01 | $65.10 | $39.98 | 10,630 |
| Annual | $41,750 | $52,830 | $75,240 | $104,030 | $135,410 | $83,160 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where set and exhibit designers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.79 | $35.19 | $50.49 | $64.44 | $78.28 | $50.65 | 2,690 | 0.15 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $47,400 | $73,200 | $105,030 | $134,030 | $162,820 | $105,350 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $22.65 | $31.01 | $38.72 | $42.34 | $54.97 | $39.46 | 420 | 0.15 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $47,110 | $64,490 | $80,540 | $88,080 | $114,340 | $82,070 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $25.90 | $28.84 | $37.13 | $62.16 | $78.88 | $44.80 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $53,880 | $59,990 | $77,230 | $129,280 | $164,070 | $93,190 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $22.89 | $30.58 | $36.97 | $50.16 | $56.87 | $39.31 | 190 | 0.27 | 3.93 |
| Annual | $47,600 | $63,600 | $76,900 | $104,330 | $118,290 | $81,770 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $22.79 | $29.62 | $36.72 | $47.39 | $54.12 | $37.73 | 220 | 0.05 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $47,400 | $61,610 | $76,380 | $98,560 | $112,570 | $78,470 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.79 | $35.19 | $50.49 | $64.44 | $78.28 | $50.65 | 2,690 | 0.15 | 2.16 |
| Annual | $47,400 | $73,200 | $105,030 | $134,030 | $162,820 | $105,350 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,690 | 0.17 | 2.55 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $21.96 | $23.39 | $29.21 | $37.48 | $48.57 | $31.69 | 740 | 0.07 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $45,670 | $48,650 | $60,750 | $77,960 | $101,030 | $65,910 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $22.65 | $31.01 | $38.72 | $42.34 | $54.97 | $39.46 | 420 | 0.15 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $47,110 | $64,490 | $80,540 | $88,080 | $114,340 | $82,070 | ||||
| Utah | Hourly | $10.15 | $19.31 | $21.42 | $31.40 | $46.23 | $25.86 | 340 | 0.19 | 2.84 |
| Annual | $21,100 | $40,160 | $44,540 | $65,320 | $96,150 | $53,780 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $25.94 | $37.30 | $52.46 | $61.22 | $82.05 | $54.16 | 290 | 0.12 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $53,950 | $77,570 | $109,120 | $127,350 | $170,660 | $112,660 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.59 | $38.49 | $51.38 | $65.10 | $80.03 | $54.80 | 1,870 | 0.30 | 4.37 |
| Annual | $59,470 | $80,060 | $106,880 | $135,410 | $166,450 | $113,990 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $11.20 | $17.77 | $44.24 | $47.93 | $52.12 | $37.27 | 40 | 0.11 | 1.62 |
| Annual | $23,290 | $36,950 | $92,020 | $99,690 | $108,410 | $77,520 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.19 | $33.39 | $41.77 | $64.19 | $84.14 | $49.36 | 1,620 | 0.17 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $62,790 | $69,450 | $86,880 | $133,510 | $175,010 | $102,670 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $23.67 | $30.01 | $39.90 | $44.27 | $44.27 | $37.90 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.36 |
| Annual | $49,230 | $62,420 | $83,000 | $92,080 | $92,080 | $78,830 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.59 | $38.49 | $51.38 | $65.10 | $80.03 | $54.80 | 1,870 | 0.30 | 4.37 |
| Annual | $59,470 | $80,060 | $106,880 | $135,410 | $166,450 | $113,990 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $30.19 | $33.39 | $41.77 | $64.19 | $84.14 | $49.36 | 1,620 | 0.17 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $62,790 | $69,450 | $86,880 | $133,510 | $175,010 | $102,670 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $22.83 | $30.58 | $39.88 | $50.16 | $56.87 | $40.56 | 420 | 0.13 | 1.94 |
| Annual | $47,490 | $63,600 | $82,960 | $104,330 | $118,290 | $84,350 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | $22.95 | $23.25 | $29.51 | $38.19 | $48.01 | $31.80 | 310 | 0.22 | 3.21 |
| Annual | $47,730 | $48,360 | $61,370 | $79,430 | $99,860 | $66,140 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $25.94 | $37.30 | $52.46 | $61.22 | $82.05 | $54.16 | 290 | 0.12 | 1.76 |
| Annual | $53,950 | $77,570 | $109,120 | $127,350 | $170,660 | $112,660 | ||||
Top industries employing set and exhibit designers
Motion Picture and Video Industries employ 29.9% of set and exhibit designers nationally (3,180 jobs) at a median $103,430 a year ($49.73 an hour), followed by Performing Arts Companies (17.8%) and Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (8.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 3,180 | 29.9% | $103,430 | $49.73 |
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 1,890 | 17.8% | $66,190 | $31.82 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions NAICS 712100 | 950 | 8.9% | $62,510 | $30.05 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 690 | 6.5% | $52,130 | $25.06 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers NAICS 711500 | 540 | 5.1% | $74,880 | $36.00 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (10,630). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $54,860 for set and exhibit designers in May 2021 and $75,240 in May 2025, with employment of 6,850 and 10,630.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $54,860 | $26.37 | 6,850 |
| May 2022 | $59,990 | $28.84 | 9,490 |
| May 2023 | $59,490 | $28.60 | 10,090 |
| May 2024 | $66,280 | $31.87 | 10,850 |
| May 2025 | $75,240 | $36.17 | 10,630 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
34 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $50.49 | $105,030 | $47,400 | $162,820 | 2,690 | 0.15 | 2.16 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $38.72 | $80,540 | $47,110 | $114,340 | 420 | 0.15 | 2.20 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $37.13 | $77,230 | $53,880 | $164,070 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.69 |
| 4 | District of Columbia profile | $36.97 | $76,900 | $47,600 | $118,290 | 190 | 0.27 | 3.93 |
| 5 | New Jersey profile | $36.72 | $76,380 | $47,400 | $112,570 | 220 | 0.05 | 0.74 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $35.84 | $74,540 | $51,870 | $123,640 | 230 | 0.06 | 0.91 |
| 7 | Nebraska profile | $35.57 | $73,980 | $48,180 | $93,140 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.68 |
| 8 | Indiana profile | $34.71 | $72,200 | $44,540 | $93,700 | 110 | 0.04 | 0.51 |
| 9 | Georgia profile | $32.31 | $67,210 | $29,330 | $122,060 | 310 | 0.06 | 0.92 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $31.77 | $66,090 | $49,290 | $84,670 | 150 | 0.05 | 0.73 |
| 11 | Oregon profile | $30.18 | $62,770 | $47,140 | $92,220 | 280 | 0.14 | 2.06 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $29.21 | $60,750 | $45,670 | $101,030 | 740 | 0.07 | 1.09 |
| 13 | Connecticut profile | $29.18 | $60,680 | $49,120 | $105,530 | 70 | 0.04 | 0.56 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.69 | $59,670 | $46,430 | $114,970 | 120 | 0.02 | 0.29 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $28.20 | $58,650 | $41,600 | $104,010 | 120 | 0.03 | 0.43 |
| 16 | Texas profile | $27.37 | $56,930 | $36,480 | $111,450 | 210 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| 17 | Ohio profile | $26.23 | $54,560 | $23,760 | $92,020 | 290 | 0.05 | 0.77 |
| 18 | Kentucky profile | $25.61 | $53,260 | $31,070 | $87,610 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.32 |
| 19 | Missouri profile | $24.81 | $51,610 | $33,530 | $74,850 | 290 | 0.10 | 1.46 |
| 20 | Michigan profile | $24.48 | $50,910 | $31,200 | $73,710 | 140 | 0.03 | 0.47 |
| 21 | Nevada profile | $24.45 | $50,860 | $34,930 | $101,950 | 180 | 0.12 | 1.74 |
| 22 | Iowa profile | $24.35 | $50,640 | $46,840 | $70,000 | 60 | 0.04 | 0.61 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $23.76 | $49,410 | $22,160 | $87,510 | ** | ** | ** |
| 24 | Arizona profile | $22.25 | $46,280 | $38,660 | $109,380 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 25 | Utah profile | $21.42 | $44,540 | $21,100 | $96,150 | 340 | 0.19 | 2.84 |
| 26 | Arkansas profile | $18.61 | $38,700 | $35,200 | $72,350 | 50 | 0.04 | 0.53 |
| – | Colorado profile | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.06 | 0.87 |
| – | Illinois profile | * | * | * | * | 330 | 0.05 | 0.79 |
| – | New Mexico profile | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.09 | 1.24 |
| – | New York profile | * | * | * | * | 1,690 | 0.17 | 2.55 |
| – | Oklahoma profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.03 | 0.39 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.02 | 0.34 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 230 | 0.07 | 1.02 |
| – | Wisconsin profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.02 | 0.27 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-1027 Set and Exhibit Designers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-1027, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-1027.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.