Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in District of Columbia is $76,900/year ($36.97/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $70,628 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 42.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in District of Columbia?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Set and exhibit designers pay in District of Columbia tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 2% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,146/month, which is 43.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $71K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $83K | +8% | 420 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 43.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,856/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 75% 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 District of Columbia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
District of Columbia pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $71K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in District of Columbia?
The median is $76,900 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,600, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $118,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,899/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 43.8% 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 District of Columbia?
District of Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $70,628 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.