Set and exhibit designers
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Median Salary
$66,280
~$32/hr · ~$5,523/mo
US Jobs
31K
Slower than average
AI & Automation Risk
7/10
High Risk
AI & Automation Risk
High Risk 7/10
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $106,580 | Above avg (113.1) | $94,269 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $85,260 | Below avg (92.4) | $92,296 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $106,410 | Above avg (117.6) | $90,522 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $100,020 | Above avg (114.7) | $87,164 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,090 | Above avg (112.6) | $85,303 |
| Rochester, NY | $82,670 | Average (98.4) | $84,024 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $78,200 | Above avg (103.2) | $75,787 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $65,810 | Below avg (91.9) | $71,574 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $78,320 | Above avg (112.7) | $69,475 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $75,230 | Above avg (109.5) | $68,676 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $60,790 | Below avg (91.2) | $66,660 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $73,460 | Above avg (110.4) | $66,544 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $61,920 | Below avg (95.0) | $65,197 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $66,800 | Above avg (104.3) | $64,045 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $66,280 | Above avg (105.8) | $62,665 |
Cost of Living Index: 100 = US national average. Below 100 = cheaper. Above 100 = more expensive.
Education & Requirements
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
10-Year Growth
+2% (Slower than average)
Hourly Rate
~$32/hr
Monthly Income
~$5,523/mo
Related Careers
Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics OOH (2024)