Set and Exhibit Designers Salary in Pittsburgh, PA
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Pittsburgh, PA is $43,900/year ($21.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $29K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.67), which stretches that salary to about $46,372 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,299/month — about 42.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $44K get you in Pittsburgh?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Pittsburgh’s Regional Price Parity (94.67). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About set and exhibit designers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pittsburgh, PA
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $29K. Mid-career wages sit at $44K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $100K | +51% | 2,770 |
| Washington | $78K | +18% | 150 |
| Maryland | $78K | +18% | 290 |
| Massachusetts | $73K | +11% | 250 |
| Illinois | $71K | +8% | 350 |
| New Jersey | $68K | +2% | 300 |
| Minnesota | $66K | -1% | 170 |
| District of Columbia | $62K | -7% | 260 |
| Oregon | $61K | -8% | 50 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -8% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $58K | -13% | 50 |
| Missouri | $56K | -15% | 510 |
| Indiana | $56K | -16% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $55K | -17% | 30 |
| Texas | $54K | -18% | 270 |
| Ohio | $53K | -20% | 260 |
| Georgia | $53K | -20% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $52K | -22% | 80 |
| Arizona | $51K | -23% | 50 |
| Virginia | $51K | -23% | 100 |
| Michigan | $50K | -25% | 120 |
| Nevada | $50K | -25% | 160 |
| Florida | $49K | -26% | 890 |
| Iowa | $48K | -27% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $48K | -28% | 130 |
| Oklahoma | $46K | -30% | 80 |
| Wisconsin | $46K | -30% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $46K | -31% | 150 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -31% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $44K | -33% | 60 |
| Arkansas | $37K | -45% | 40 |
| Utah | $35K | -47% | 380 |
| Kansas | $17K | -75% | 150 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pittsburgh numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Pittsburgh, PA?
The median is $43,900 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,230, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $61,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $44K enough to live in Pittsburgh?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,997/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,299/month, which eats 43.3% 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 Pittsburgh?
Pittsburgh has a Regional Price Parity of 94.67 (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 $46,372 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.