Set and Exhibit Designers in California
Considering working as a Set and Exhibit Designers in California? Below are the key facts. 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.
What do Set and Exhibit Designers Make in California?
For a set and exhibit designers working in California, wages run about $100,020 per year (or roughly $48.09/hour).Earnings range from $49,720 at the 10th percentile to $142,230 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,720 | $23.90 |
| 25th percentile | $75,950 | $36.52 |
| Median (50th) | $100,020 | $48.09 |
| 75th percentile | $128,160 | $61.61 |
| 90th percentile | $142,230 | $68.38 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in California nationwide is 2.18, suggesting that set and exhibit designers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, set and exhibit designers earn a median of $109,049 per year ($52.43/hour), below the California median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 260,467 set and exhibit designers in the U.S.. In California alone, around 2,770 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 150 set and exhibit designers.
Top California Metros for Set and Exhibit Designers
The largest metro-area employers of set and exhibit designers in California.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,080 | $100,020 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 290 | $106,410 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 100 | $67,360 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 50 | $106,580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 40 | n/a |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 40 | $49,810 |
Top States for Set and Exhibit Designers Employment
View the states that employ the most set and exhibit designers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,770 |
| New York | 1,250 |
| Florida | 890 |
| Missouri | 510 |
| Utah | 380 |
| Tennessee | 370 |
| Illinois | 350 |
| New Jersey | 300 |
| Maryland | 290 |
| Texas | 270 |
| Ohio | 260 |
| District of Columbia | 260 |
| Massachusetts | 250 |
| Georgia | 170 |
| Minnesota | 170 |
| Nevada | 160 |
| Washington | 150 |
| North Carolina | 150 |
| Kansas | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | 130 |
Highest-Paying States for Set and Exhibit Designers
The highest-paying states for set and exhibit designers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $100,020 |
| Washington | $78,320 |
| Maryland | $78,200 |
| Massachusetts | $73,290 |
| Illinois | $71,340 |
| New Jersey | $67,870 |
| Colorado | $66,050 |
| Minnesota | $65,770 |
| District of Columbia | $61,800 |
| Oregon | $61,240 |
Skills
Top set and exhibit designers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for set and exhibit designers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Set and Exhibit Designers typically:
- 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.
- Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
- Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
- Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
- Select set props, such as furniture, pictures, lamps, and rugs.
- Design and build scale models of set designs, or miniature sets used in filming backgrounds or special effects.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Getting Information
- Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Working with Computers
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Scheduling Work and Activities
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe Acrobat, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software In-demand technologies: Adobe Illustrator
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Design & Applied Arts
- Drama & Theater Arts
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to set and exhibit designers include:
- Video Game Designers
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval
- Landscape Architects
- Architectural and Civil Drafters
- Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary
- Curators
Also Known As
Creator, Designer, Display Coordinator, Display Designer, Event Decorator, Event Designer, Exhibit Coordinator, Exhibit Designer, Exhibit Preparator, Exhibit Specialist, Exhibit Technician (Exhibit Tech), Exhibitions Coordinator, Exhibitor, Exhibits Manager, Exhibits Specialist.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-1027.00
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