Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Texas is $56,930/year ($27.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $111K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $62,225 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 35.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $57K get you in Texas?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Texas runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 35.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for set and exhibit designerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $111K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Texas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $58K | +2% | 60 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $58K | +1% | 40 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $57K | +0% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 35.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,189/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $57K here vs. $75K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Texas pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Texas?
The median is $56,930 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,480, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $111,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,982/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 35.5% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $62,225 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.