Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median set and exhibit designers salary in the United States is $75,240 per year ($36.17/hour). Salaries range from $41,750 at the entry level to $135,410+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 10,630 set and exhibit designers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$75,240
per year
Hourly Rate
$36.17
per hour
Employment
10,630
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$41,750
25th percentile
$52,830
Median
$75,240
75th percentile
$104,030
90th percentile
$135,410
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+2.3%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
2,500
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Set and Exhibit Designers Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$39K$105K■ No data
Top Paying States
California
$105K
+40%
Maryland
$81K
+7%
Washington
$77K
+3%
District of Columbia
$77K
+2%
New Jersey
$76K
+2%
Massachusetts
$75K
-1%
Nebraska
$74K
-2%
Indiana
$72K
-4%
Georgia
$67K
-11%
Minnesota
$66K
-12%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $105,030 | +39.6% |
| Maryland | $80,540 | +7.0% |
| Washington | $77,230 | +2.6% |
| District of Columbia | $76,900 | +2.2% |
| New Jersey | $76,380 | +1.5% |
| Massachusetts | $74,540 | -0.9% |
| Nebraska | $73,980 | -1.7% |
| Indiana | $72,200 | -4.0% |
| Georgia | $67,210 | -10.7% |
| Minnesota | $66,090 | -12.2% |
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Set and Exhibit Designers Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,120 | +45.0% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,880 | +42.1% |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $92,020 | +22.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $86,880 | +15.5% |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $83,000 | +10.3% |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,960 | +10.3% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,960 | +7.6% |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $80,280 | +6.7% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,230 | +2.6% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,900 | +2.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 39
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A set and exhibit designers earning $75,240/year would need 792 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 851 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how set and exhibit designers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Set and Exhibit Designers salary trend (2011–2024) →