Set and Exhibit Designers Salary in Richmond, VA
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Richmond, VA is $50,330/year ($24.2/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $84K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.86), that's roughly $51,431 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,655/month — about 50% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Richmond?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Richmond’s Regional Price Parity (97.86). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Richmond, VA
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $84K or more, a $49K 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 |
| Nevada | $50K | -25% | 160 |
| Michigan | $50K | -25% | 120 |
| 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 Richmond numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Richmond, VA?
The median is $50,330 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,410, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $83,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Richmond?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,342/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,655/month, which eats 49.5% 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 Richmond?
Richmond has a Regional Price Parity of 97.86 (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 $51,431 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.