Set and Exhibit Designers · California

Set and Exhibit Designers Salary in California

Set and Exhibit Designers in California earn a median annual wage of $105,030 —39.6% above the national median of $75,240. That ranks CA #1 of 26 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$105,030
Median hourly
$50.49
Entry level (P10)
$47,400
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$162,820
90th percentile
Employment
2,690
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+39.6%
U.S. $75,240

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$47,400
$73,200
$105,030
$134,030
$47,400$105,030$162,820
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $105,030.

Employment is 2.16× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for set and exhibit designers

All 26 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$105,030$50.492,6902.16
2Maryland$80,540$38.724202.20
3Washington$77,230$37.131700.69
4District of Columbia$76,900$36.971903.93
5New Jersey$76,380$36.722200.74
6Massachusetts$74,540$35.842300.91
7Nebraska$73,980$35.57500.68
8Indiana$72,200$34.711100.51
9Georgia$67,210$32.313100.92
10Minnesota$66,090$31.771500.73

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$85,030$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$47,660$47,320
Graphic Designers$75,130$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$47,010$39,390
Producers and Directors$129,790$90,360
Editors$98,030$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do set and exhibit designers make in California?

The median annual wage for set and exhibit designers in California is $105,030, or $50.49 per hour. That is 39.6% above the national median of $75,240.

What is the entry-level set and exhibit designers salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $47,400 per year ($22.79/hour). The 25th percentile is $73,200.

How many people work as set and exhibit designers in California?

About 2,690 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for set and exhibit designers?

California ranks #1 of 26 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 2.16x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays set and exhibit designers the most?

California has the highest median wage at $105,030 per year, followed by Maryland ($80,540) and Washington ($77,230).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes