Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Connecticut is $60,680/year ($29.18/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $58,981 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,679/month, about 42.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Connecticut. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $61K get you in Connecticut?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Connecticut runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,679/month, which is 42.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) 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, Connecticut
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $56K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 42.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,947/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Connecticut?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $61K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Connecticut pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Connecticut?
The median is $60,680 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,120, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $105,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,992/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 42.1% 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median set and exhibit designers salary is worth about $58,981 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.