Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Ohio is $54,560/year ($26.23/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $24K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $59,661 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 33.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Ohio?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Ohio
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Ohio runs about 27% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $24K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Ohio
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $92K | +69% | 40 |
| Columbus | $60K | +9% | 60 |
| Cleveland | $54K | -1% | 50 |
| Cincinnati | $48K | -11% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 31.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/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 Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $24K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,426/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 83% 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 Ohio?
Local pay runs 27% below the national median — $55K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Ohio pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -27%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Ohio?
The median is $54,560 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $23,760, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $92,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,757/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 31.6% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $59,661 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.