Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Arizona is $46,280/year ($22.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $109K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $48,003 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 44.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Arizona?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Arizona runs about 38% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 45.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for set and exhibit designerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $109K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $46K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 45.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for set and exhibit designers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,320/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is set and exhibit designer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 38% below the national median — $46K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Arizona pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -38%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $48K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Arizona?
The median is $46,280 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,660, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $109,380. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,172/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 45.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a set and exhibit designers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median set and exhibit designers salary is worth about $48,003 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do set and exhibit designers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.