Graphic Designer
Median wage · national
$62,960
Range: $49K – $82K
Employed
198K
Openings/yr
20K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Set & Exhibit Designer
Set & Exhibit Designer earn $75,240 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $52,830 and $104,030. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Set & Exhibit Designer
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.
- Median Wage
- $75,240
- Employed Nationally
- 11K
- Openings / Year
- 2,500
- Entry Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Designer
Display Coordinator
Display Designer
Event Decorator
Event Designer
How Much Do Set & Exhibit Designers Make?
Set & Exhibit Designer earn $75,240 nationally, above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $52,830 and $104,030. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$75,240
National Median (Annual)
Above the national median for college graduates.
$53K–$104K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$52,830
Entry-level
$75,240
Median
$104,030
Experienced
What Do Set & Exhibit Designers Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Set & Exhibit Designer roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Operations Analysis
Time Management
Speaking
Who Thrives Here
A
Artistic
Creative and original thinking matters in this field, where fresh approaches, design sensibility, or expressive work drives real outcomes.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
Where Do Set & Exhibit Designers Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Set & Exhibit Designers?
The BLS projects +2.3% employment change for Set & Exhibit Designer through 2034, below the national average of +5%. About 2,500 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +2.3%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
Slower than average.
2,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
11K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Set & Exhibit Designer professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $75,240 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,770 | $100,020 | +32.9% |
| 2 | New York | 1,250 | — | — |
| 3 | Florida | 890 | $49,250 | -34.5% |
| 4 | Missouri | 510 | $56,100 | -25.4% |
| 5 | Utah | 380 | $35,230 | -53.2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Set & Exhibit Designer positions require a bachelor's degree to qualify. The 2 programs below are the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Design | 36,019 | $51,490 | 1,238 |
| 2 | Drama & Theatre | 16,853 | $39,775 | 1,116 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Set & Exhibit Designers
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | 93 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| 4 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 5 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 6 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | 92 | $13,807 | $124,080 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Set & Exhibit Designer, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Set & Exhibit Designer pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Set & Exhibit Designer Pros & Cons
The data on Set & Exhibit Designer shows 2 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Above-average pay At $75,240 median annually, this career pays meaningfully more than most college-graduate roles. Financial return on education is typically strong.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $104,030 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- Slow job growth At +2.3% projected growth, this career lags the national average. Limited expansion means stiffer competition for openings that do appear.
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($52,830) and 75th ($104,030) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Extensive preparation before reaching full earning potential This is a Job Zone 5 occupation, extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions. Most workers in this field spend their first several years at entry-level pay well below the $75,240 median while building the experience employers require.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $52,830 is considerably below the $75,240 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Set & Exhibit Designer Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Set & Exhibit Designer professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Set & Exhibit Designer is $75,240, above the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $52,830 and $104,030. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Set & Exhibit Designer a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $75,240 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Research salary outcomes at specific programs, not just the national median, before committing to a graduate path.
How long does it take to become a Set & Exhibit Designer?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A bachelor's degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Design are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $75,240 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
What is the job outlook for Set & Exhibit Designer?
The BLS projects +2.3% employment change for Set & Exhibit Designer through 2034, slower than average compared to all occupations. About 2,500 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 11K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
Why do Set & Exhibit Designer salaries vary so widely?
The $51,200 gap between the 25th ($52,830) and 75th ($104,030) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Set & Exhibit Designer professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Set & Exhibit Designer roles: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Operations Analysis, Time Management, and Speaking. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
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Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
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- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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