Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Indiana is $72,200/year ($34.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $78,641 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $72K get you in Indiana?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Indiana
Set and exhibit designers pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $72K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 24.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Indiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $73K | +1% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 24.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for set and exhibit designers in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,672/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $72K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Indiana pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $79K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Indiana?
The median is $72,200 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,540, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $93,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,748/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 24.1% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $78,641 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.