Set and Exhibit Designers Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for set and exhibit designerss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- California$105,350
- Washington$93,190
- Maryland$82,070
- District of Columbia$81,770
- Massachusetts$79,580
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Arkansas$46,290
- North Carolina$51,440
- Michigan$53,080
- Missouri$53,160
- Kentucky$53,600
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $105,350 | $105,030 | $51 | +26.7% | 2,690 |
| 2 | Washington | $93,190 | $77,230 | $45 | +12.1% | 170 |
| 3 | Maryland | $82,070 | $80,540 | $39 | -1.3% | 420 |
| 4 | District of Columbia | $81,770 | $76,900 | $39 | -1.7% | 190 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $79,580 | $74,540 | $38 | -4.3% | 230 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $78,470 | $76,380 | $38 | -5.6% | 220 |
| 7 | Nebraska | $73,700 | $73,980 | $35 | -11.4% | 50 |
| 8 | Georgia | $69,420 | $67,210 | $33 | -16.5% | 310 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $69,300 | $60,680 | $33 | -16.7% | 70 |
| 10 | Oregon | $68,720 | $62,770 | $33 | -17.4% | 280 |
| 11 | Virginia | $67,280 | $58,650 | $32 | -19.1% | 120 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $67,090 | $66,090 | $32 | -19.3% | 150 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $66,750 | $59,670 | $32 | -19.7% | 120 |
| 14 | Indiana | $66,500 | $72,200 | $32 | -20% | 110 |
| 15 | Florida | $65,910 | $60,750 | $32 | -20.7% | 740 |
| 16 | Texas | $65,570 | $56,930 | $32 | -21.2% | 210 |
| 17 | Nevada | $61,140 | $50,860 | $29 | -26.5% | 180 |
| 18 | Ohio | $56,700 | $54,560 | $27 | -31.8% | 290 |
| 19 | Arizona | $56,100 | $46,280 | $27 | -32.5% | 70 |
| 20 | Iowa | $55,510 | $50,640 | $27 | -33.2% | 60 |
| 21 | Utah | $53,780 | $44,540 | $26 | -35.3% | 340 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $53,600 | $53,260 | $26 | -35.5% | 40 |
| 23 | Missouri | $53,160 | $51,610 | $26 | -36.1% | 290 |
| 24 | Michigan | $53,080 | $50,910 | $26 | -36.2% | 140 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $51,440 | $49,410 | $25 | -38.1% | — |
| 26 | Arkansas | $46,290 | $38,700 | $22 | -44.3% | 50 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 42 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,120 | $112,660 | 290 |
| 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,880 | $113,990 | 1,870 |
| 3 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $92,020 | $77,520 | 40 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $86,880 | $102,670 | 1,620 |
| 5 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $83,000 | $78,830 | 40 |
| 6 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,960 | $84,350 | 420 |
| 7 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,960 | $82,040 | 160 |
| 8 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $80,280 | $78,680 | 220 |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,230 | $95,590 | 140 |
| 10 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,900 | $80,880 | 90 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing set and exhibit designerss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Employment Services | $115,120 | $115,070 | 290 |
| 2 | Temporary Help Services | $115,120 | $115,870 | — |
| 3 | Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries | $103,430 | $104,210 | 3,180 |
| 4 | Motion Picture and Video Industries | $103,430 | $104,210 | 3,180 |
| 5 | Sector 51 - Information | $102,430 | $103,870 | 3,440 |
| 6 | Sectors 31, 32, and 33 - Manufacturing | $95,830 | $87,270 | — |
| 7 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $95,170 | $94,450 | 270 |
| 8 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $95,170 | $94,450 | 270 |
| 9 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,380 | $84,860 | 50 |
| 10 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,380 | $84,860 | 50 |
| 11 | Sector 55 - Management of Companies and Enterprises | $93,380 | $84,860 | 50 |
| 12 | Specialized Design Services | $82,430 | $85,170 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do set and exhibit designers make in the U.S.?
The median set and exhibit designers salary in the United States is $75,240 per year (mean $83,160), and about 80% earn between $41,750 and $135,410.
How much do set and exhibit designers make per hour?
Roughly $40 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $83,160 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays set and exhibit designers the most?
California has the highest average pay for set and exhibit designers at $105,350 per year (median $105,030).
What is the job outlook for set and exhibit designers?
Employment is projected to change +2.3% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 2,500 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.