Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH is $92,020/year ($44.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $23K at the entry level to $108K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.69), which stretches that salary to about $99,277 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,273/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $92K get you in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek’s Regional Price Parity (92.69). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek sits well above the national pay line for set and exhibit designers, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $75K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,273/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.69 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek offers a genuinely strong financial position for set and exhibit designerss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for set and exhibit designers in metros near Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $48K | $51K |
| Columbus | $60K | $62K |
| Cleveland | $54K | $58K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $73K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $23K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $108K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Set and Exhibit Designers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $105K | +40% | 2,690 |
| Maryland | $81K | +7% | 420 |
| Washington | $77K | +3% | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +2% | 190 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +2% | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $75K | -1% | 230 |
| Nebraska | $74K | -2% | 50 |
| Indiana | $72K | -4% | 110 |
| Georgia | $67K | -11% | 310 |
| Minnesota | $66K | -12% | 150 |
| Oregon | $63K | -17% | 280 |
| Florida | $61K | -19% | 740 |
| Connecticut | $61K | -19% | 70 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -21% | 120 |
| Virginia | $59K | -22% | 120 |
| Texas | $57K | -24% | 210 |
| Ohio | $55K | -27% | 290 |
| Kentucky | $53K | -29% | 40 |
| Missouri | $52K | -31% | 290 |
| Michigan | $51K | -32% | 140 |
| Nevada | $51K | -32% | 180 |
| Iowa | $51K | -33% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $49K | -34% | N/A |
| Arizona | $46K | -38% | 70 |
| Utah | $45K | -41% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -49% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 26 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,273/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for set and exhibit designers in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $23K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,397/month. At HUD’s $1,273/month FMR, rent would take 91% 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 Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $92K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.69), the purchasing-power equivalent is $99K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH?
The median is $92,020 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,290, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $108,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,940/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,273/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a set and exhibit designers salary go in Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek?
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek has a Regional Price Parity of 92.69 (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 $99,277 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.
