Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Kentucky is $53,260/year ($25.61/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $59,027 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 31.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $53K get you in Kentucky?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Kentucky runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $57K 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 Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 31.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,864/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 60% 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 Kentucky?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $53K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Kentucky pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $59K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Kentucky?
The median is $53,260 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,070, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $87,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,559/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 31.2% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $59,027 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.