Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Pennsylvania is $59,670/year ($28.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $62,830 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 33.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in Pennsylvania?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Pennsylvania runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $75K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $69K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $60K | +0% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 33.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,786/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $60K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Pennsylvania pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $59,670 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,430, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $114,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,013/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 33.7% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $62,830 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.