Art and Design Workers

How to become a Set and Exhibit Designer

Official title: Set and Exhibit Designers

Also called: Designer, Display Coordinator, Exhibit Coordinator, Exhibit Designer, Exhibit Preparator, Historical Society Window Dresser, Installations Designer, Projection Designer, Scenic Designer, Set Designer

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.

Main 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.
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.

How to become one

Set and exhibit designers typically need a bachelor's degree in theater design, exhibit design, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master's degree.

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Display Designer (Prof & Kin).
College: Creative Arts & Design degrees, Offered by 32 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $75,240 a year The middle half earn $52,830 to $104,030.
About 31,600 people work in this job now, and about 32,000 are projected by 2035. (+1.4%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Set and Exhibit Designer?

Set and exhibit designers typically need a bachelor's degree in theater design, exhibit design, or a related field. Some employers prefer to hire candidates who have a master's degree.

How much does a Set and Exhibit Designer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $75,240 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $52,830 to $104,030.

Is a Set and Exhibit Designer a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 31,600 people now and 32,000 later (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Set and Exhibit Designer?

Usually. 64% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Set and Exhibit Designer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page 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.