Salary distribution
Where California set and exhibit designers fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $75,950 and $128,160, with a median of $100,020.
Set and Exhibit Designers in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 6 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $86,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $78,627 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $99,353 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Set and Exhibit Designers in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| George P. Johnson Company | Associate Creative Director | 1 | $108,706 |
| GASSED LLC | Set Designer | 1 | $70,000 |
| Studio Left LLC | Environmental designer | 1 | $75,254 |
| No Hot Ashes LLC | 3D Spatial Designer | 1 | $90,000 |
| Pink Sparrow Scenic LLC | Executive Project Manager | 1 | $110,000 |
| Lucas Museum of Narrative Art | Exhibition Designer | 1 | $82,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Creative Director at George P. Johnson Company$108,706San FranciscoWage Level IIIDecided Aug 5, 2025I-200-25210-208359
- Set Designer at GASSED LLC$70,000San MarcosWage Level IIDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-070379
- Environmental designer at Studio Left LLC$75,254PasadenaWage Level IIDecided May 23, 2025I-200-25138-988862
- 3D Spatial Designer at No Hot Ashes LLC$90,000Los AngelesWage Level IIIDecided Apr 18, 2025I-200-25103-859094
- Executive Project Manager at Pink Sparrow Scenic LLC$110,000ComptonWage Level IIDecided Oct 11, 2024I-203-24278-385560
- Exhibition Designer at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art$82,000Los AngelesWage Level IIDecided Oct 2, 2024I-200-24269-365268
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Set and Exhibit Designers pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Set and Exhibit Designers in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 6 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $91,980.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | George P. Johnson Company | 4 | $91,980 |
| Retail and wholesale | No Hot Ashes LLC | 1 | $90,000 |
| Media and entertainment | Lucas Museum of Narrative Art | 1 | $82,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Fine Arts
Knowledge
- 4.9 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Fluency of Ideas
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Visualization
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- 02
Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- 03
Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- 04
Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- 05
Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- 06
Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
- 07
Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- 08
Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+2.2%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for set and exhibit designers in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$106,580
- San Francisco$106,410
- Los Angeles$100,020
- San Diego$67,360
- Sacramento$49,810
- Riverside—
Compare Set and Exhibit Designers pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Set and Exhibit Designers in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Set and Exhibit Designers in California is $100,020.
- How does California compare to the national median for Set and Exhibit Designers?
- The California median is +65.5% versus the BLS national figure of $60,447.
- What is the salary range for Set and Exhibit Designers in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $49,720 and the 90th-percentile at $142,230, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Set and Exhibit Designers a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 2.2% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Set and Exhibit Designers?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.