Set and Exhibit Designer salary
From 25 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 27-1027: Set and Exhibit Designers
At a glance
- Median up 12% since FY2021. From $62,400 in FY2021 to $69,962 in FY2025 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Set and Exhibit Designer H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 25 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Set and Exhibit Designer jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 27-1027, Set and Exhibit Designers). The median base salary is $70,000, 43% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $58,698 and $75,254.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 0% of filings
Mid-level · 100% of filings
Senior · 0% of filings
Expert · 0% of filings
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By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | – | 0 |
| Level II · Qualified | $72,500 | 12 |
| Level III · Experienced | – | 0 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
What a Set and Exhibit Designer does
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
Typical tasks
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Set and Exhibit Designers (27-1027.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Set and Exhibit Designers), the median annual wage was $75,240 in May 2025, with 10,630 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $70,000, 7% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $45,519 | $41,750 |
| 25th percentile | $58,698 | $52,830 |
| Median | $70,000 | $75,240 |
| 75th percentile | $75,254 | $104,030 |
| 90th percentile | $108,424 | $135,410 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $45,519 |
| 25th | $58,698 |
| 50th (median) | $70,000 |
| 75th | $75,254 |
| 90th | $108,424 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $62,400 | $57,500 | $83,015 | 11 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2023 | $58,011 | $51,000 | $62,900 | 10 |
| FY2024 | $61,069 | $50,000 | $72,800 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $69,962 | $58,698 | $75,064 | 16 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Set and Exhibit Designer make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Set and Exhibit Designer jobs is $70,000 (25 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $58,698 and $75,254.
Do H-1B Set and Exhibit Designers earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($70,000) is 7% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($75,240, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.