Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Set and exhibit designers develop visual environments for a range of settings and audiences. Nationally, this occupation employs about 31,000 people, indicating a moderate-sized professional community. The national median salary of $66,280 puts this career in a solid earning range, with opportunities for higher pay in certain states and metro areas. Projected employment growth of 2.3% suggests a stable path with some room for expansion, supported by around 2,000 annual openings that can accommodate new entrants and experienced professionals seeking movement. The role rewards creativity and innovation, but also values project management, communication, critical thinking, and comfort with technology and quantitative work. With a typical education of a bachelor’s degree, this field can appeal to people who want to combine artistic interests with structured planning and analysis. Overall, it offers a balanced mix of creative expression, professional skill development, and steady, if modest, labor-market growth.
The national median salary for set and exhibit designers is $66,280, but pay varies significantly by location. At the state level, California stands out with a median salary of $105,030, while Maryland and Washington offer median salaries of $80,540 and $77,230, respectively. Massachusetts sits at $74,540, and Virginia at $58,650. Among metro areas, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont reports a median of $109,120, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim $106,880, and New York-Newark-Jersey City $86,880. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria offers $82,960, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton $74,710. These figures show that local markets can significantly influence earning potential, with some metros and states offering compensation well above the national median. For career planning, this means that relocation or targeting specific regions could be a key strategy for maximizing income over time, especially for experienced designers able to compete in the most lucrative markets.
Set and exhibit designers have national employment of about 31,000, with projected growth of 2.3%. This indicates a gradual expansion rather than rapid change. With approximately 2,000 annual openings, there is an ongoing flow of opportunities for new graduates and professionals moving between roles or locations. The same 2.3% growth rate is reflected across the highlighted states and metro areas, suggesting broadly consistent expectations for change in the near term rather than major regional differences in growth. For job seekers, this environment points to a field that is neither rapidly shrinking nor surging, but maintaining steady demand. Career progress may rely on building experience, strengthening key skills like creativity, project management, and technology use, and being strategic about geography, rather than depending on large-scale market expansion alone.
Location plays a major role in opportunity for set and exhibit designers. Among states, California combines a high median salary of $105,030 with employment of 2,690 and the highest state opportunity score listed (67.38). Maryland and Washington also offer relatively strong salary levels ($80,540 and $77,230) and opportunity scores above 50. Massachusetts stands out with a 65.87 opportunity score, while Virginia offers a more modest median salary of $58,650 but still a solid opportunity score of 54.96. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, with a median salary of $86,880 and employment of 1,620. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim offer very high median salaries ($109,120 and $106,880) and strong opportunity scores. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria and Boston-Cambridge-Newton provide a mix of solid pay and opportunity. These differences suggest that both pay and overall career conditions vary meaningfully by region.
Set and exhibit designers typically need a bachelor’s degree, which positions this career as accessible to those prepared to complete a four-year college program. The role’s skill profile is broad, spanning both creative and analytical strengths. Creativity and innovation are central, supported by project management to handle timelines and resources, and leadership for guiding efforts and collaborating with others. Strong speaking and listening skills matter alongside writing and reading, reflecting the importance of clear communication. Critical and analytical thinking, as well as mathematics and science, indicate a need for structured problem solving and comfort with quantitative and technical information. Computers and information technology skills are also emphasized, suggesting that designers benefit from being adept with digital tools and systems. For students and career changers, developing this mix of artistic, organizational, and analytical capabilities during a bachelor’s program can align well with the expectations of the field.
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