Set and exhibit designers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Set and exhibit designers in the United States earn a median salary of $75,240 per year — about $36 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 31K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
The core creative process—including script analysis, conceptual sketching, and CAD modeling—is increasingly susceptible to generative AI and automated design tools that can rapidly produce 3D environments and visual concepts. While the role requires physical-world considerations like material budgets and on-site installation oversight, the shift toward digital production (such as virtual sets and LED volumes) and AI-assisted drafting significantly increases productivity and reduces the total human labor required per project.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OHBEST VALUE | $92,020 | Below avg (92.7) | $99,273 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $109,120 | Above avg (115.6) | $94,384 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $106,880 | Above avg (113.6) | $94,113 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $80,960 | Average (100.1) | $80,913 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $83,000 | Above avg (105.8) | $78,463 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $86,880 | Above avg (112.6) | $77,183 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $80,280 | Above avg (104.5) | $76,833 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $72,960 | Below avg (95.7) | $76,241 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82,960 | Above avg (108.9) | $76,191 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $69,700 | Below avg (92.2) | $75,614 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $77,230 | Above avg (111.1) | $69,493 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $74,710 | Above avg (108.3) | $69,006 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $76,900 | Above avg (111.9) | $68,730 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $76,350 | Above avg (114.2) | $66,883 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $63,920 | Average (100.9) | $63,370 |