Set and Exhibit Designer Salary
Set and Exhibit Designers earn a median $75,240 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$75,240
$36.17 per hour
Range
$41,750 – $135,410
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
10,630
across the U.S.
Set and Exhibit Designer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$61,761
per year · effective tax rate 17.9%
$5,147Monthly
$2,573Twice a month
$2,375Every 2 weeks
$29.69Hourly
- Federal income tax$7,723
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,665
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,091
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$61,761
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $41,750 | $20.07 | $35,726 |
| 25th percentile | $52,830 | $25.40 | $44,629 |
| Median (50th) | $75,240 | $36.17 | $61,761 |
| 75th percentile | $104,030 | $50.01 | $82,015 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,410 | $65.10 | $103,819 |
Best cities for set and exhibit designers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $106,880 | $76,920 | $67,732 | 1,870 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $86,880 | $65,856 | $58,506 | 1,620 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $106,880
- New York, NY — $86,880
Set and Exhibit Designer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $105,030 | $75,815 | $47,400 – $162,820 | 2,690 |
| Maryland | $80,540 | $62,028 | $47,110 – $114,340 | 420 |
| Washington | $77,230 | $63,161 | $53,880 – $164,070 | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $76,900 | $59,361 | $47,600 – $118,290 | 190 |
| New Jersey | $76,380 | $59,888 | $47,400 – $112,570 | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $74,540 | $57,762 | $51,870 – $123,640 | 230 |
| Nebraska | $73,980 | $58,388 | $48,180 – $93,140 | 50 |
| Indiana | $72,200 | $57,522 | $44,540 – $93,700 | 110 |
| Georgia | $67,210 | $53,247 | $29,330 – $122,060 | 310 |
| Minnesota | $66,090 | $52,313 | $49,290 – $84,670 | 150 |
| Oregon | $62,770 | $47,953 | $47,140 – $92,220 | 280 |
| Florida | $60,750 | $50,993 | $45,670 – $101,030 | 740 |
| Connecticut | $60,680 | $49,131 | $49,120 – $105,530 | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,670 | $48,293 | $46,430 – $114,970 | 120 |
| Virginia | $58,650 | $46,747 | $41,600 – $104,010 | 120 |
| Texas | $56,930 | $47,923 | $36,480 – $111,450 | 210 |
| Ohio | $54,560 | $45,301 | $23,760 – $92,020 | 290 |
| Kentucky | $53,260 | $43,228 | $31,070 – $87,610 | 40 |
| Missouri | $51,610 | $42,160 | $33,530 – $74,850 | 290 |
| Michigan | $50,910 | $41,173 | $31,200 – $73,710 | 140 |
| Nevada | $50,860 | $43,046 | $34,930 – $101,950 | 180 |
| Iowa | $50,640 | $41,597 | $46,840 – $70,000 | 60 |
| North Carolina | $49,410 | $40,418 | $22,160 – $87,510 | — |
| Arizona | $46,280 | $38,418 | $38,660 – $109,380 | 70 |
| Utah | $44,540 | $36,930 | $21,100 – $96,150 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $38,700 | $31,979 | $35,200 – $72,350 | 50 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a set and exhibit designer make?
The national median salary for set and exhibit designers is $75,240 a year ($36.17 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $41,750 and the top 10% earn over $135,410. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays set and exhibit designers the most?
California has the highest median pay at $105,030. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many set and exhibit designers are there in the U.S.?
About 10,630 people work as set and exhibit designers nationwide.