Set and Exhibit Designers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of set and exhibit designers to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035 (about 500 more jobs), with about 2,200 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $75,240 a year ranks 278th of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +1.4%
- Openings a year
- 2,200
- Median pay
- $75,240
- Pay rank
- 278th of 825
Is employment of set and exhibit designers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of set and exhibit designers to rise 1.4% (about 500 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is about the same as the +1.5% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 41 arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations with a projection. That change ranks 532nd of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 31,600 |
| Employment, 2035 | 32,000 |
| Projected change | +1.4% |
| Openings a year | 2,200 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 31,600 jobs here differ from the 10,630 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 2,200 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 528th most of 830 occupations. About 98% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 50 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for set and exhibit designers rank?
The median of $75,240 a year ranks 278th of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on pay and the lower half on openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: bachelor's degree.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designers | -1.7% | 16,000 | $62,960 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | -2.9% | 2,200 | $55,490 |
| Art Directors | +4.2% | 12,200 | $114,850 |
| Craft Artists | +2.0% | 1,000 | $46,080 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | +2.4% | 2,800 | $83,910 |
| Interior Designers | +2.7% | 7,700 | $67,190 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | +2.7% | 17,200 | $39,390 |
| Fashion Designers | +0.1% | 2,500 | $80,960 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.