SOC 27-1027 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Set and Exhibit Designers

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$75,240

U.S. median hourly wage$36.17

U.S. employment10,630

Nationally, set and exhibit designers earned a median of $75,240 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 10,630 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

Filter state

Set and Exhibit Designers: pay and employment by state
State
California	$105,030	$50.49	2,690	0.1
Maryland	$80,540	$38.72	420	0.2
Washington	$77,230	$37.13	170	0.0
District of Columbia	$76,900	$36.97	190	0.3
New Jersey	$76,380	$36.72	220	0.1
Massachusetts	$74,540	$35.84	230	0.1
Nebraska	$73,980	$35.57	50	0.0
Indiana	$72,200	$34.71	110	0.0
Georgia	$67,210	$32.31	310	0.1
Minnesota	$66,090	$31.77	150	0.1
Oregon	$62,770	$30.18	280	0.1
Florida	$60,750	$29.21	740	0.1
Connecticut	$60,680	$29.18	70	0.0
Pennsylvania	$59,670	$28.69	120	0.0
Virginia	$58,650	$28.20	120	0.0
Texas	$56,930	$27.37	210	0.0
Ohio	$54,560	$26.23	290	0.1
Kentucky	$53,260	$25.61	40	0.0
Missouri	$51,610	$24.81	290	0.1
Michigan	$50,910	$24.48	140	0.0
Nevada	$50,860	$24.45	180	0.1
Iowa	$50,640	$24.35	60	0.0
North Carolina	$49,410	$23.76	Not published	Not published
Arizona	$46,280	$22.25	70	0.0
Utah	$44,540	$21.42	340	0.2
Arkansas	$38,700	$18.61	50	0.0
Puerto Rico	$34,260	$16.47	Not published	Not published
Colorado	Not published	Not published	170	0.1
Illinois	Not published	Not published	330	0.1
New Mexico	Not published	Not published	70	0.1
New York	Not published	Not published	1,690	0.2
Oklahoma	Not published	Not published	50	0.0
South Carolina	Not published	Not published	50	0.0
Tennessee	Not published	Not published	230	0.1
Wisconsin	Not published	Not published	50	0.0

Pay by metro area

All 42 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

Filter metro area

Set and Exhibit Designers: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$109,120	$52.46	290	0.1
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$106,880	$51.38	1,870	0.3
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	$92,020	$44.24	40	0.1
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$86,880	$41.77	1,620	0.2
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$83,000	$39.90	40	0.0
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$82,960	$39.88	420	0.1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$80,960	$38.92	160	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$80,280	$38.59	220	0.2
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$77,230	$37.13	140	0.1
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$76,900	$36.97	90	0.1
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$76,350	$36.71	140	0.1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$74,710	$35.92	150	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$72,960	$35.08	70	0.1
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$69,700	$33.51	40	0.1
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$65,960	$31.71	140	0.1
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$63,920	$30.73	160	0.2
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$62,770	$30.18	240	0.2
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$62,420	$30.01	30	0.1
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$61,370	$29.51	310	0.2
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$59,670	$28.69	70	0.0
Columbus, OH	$59,550	$28.63	60	0.1
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$59,440	$28.58	30	0.0
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$58,100	$27.93	60	0.0
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$57,740	$27.76	40	0.0
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$56,930	$27.37	50	0.0
St. Louis, MO-IL	$55,730	$26.79	170	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$54,070	$26.00	50	0.1
Kansas City, MO-KS	$53,310	$25.63	60	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$52,210	$25.10	40	0.2
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$52,130	$25.06	150	0.1
Richmond, VA	$51,840	$24.92	30	0.1
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$50,860	$24.45	180	0.2
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$50,640	$24.35	40	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$48,360	$23.25	100	0.1
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$46,280	$22.25	40	0.0
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$45,640	$21.94	50	0.0
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$44,540	$21.42	80	0.3
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$36,030	$17.32	90	0.1
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	Not published	Not published	280	0.1
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	Not published	Not published	110	0.1
Oklahoma City, OK	Not published	Not published	30	0.0
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	Not published	Not published	50	0.0

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.