Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Utah is $44,540/year ($21.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $21K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.54), that's roughly $45,200 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,350/month, about 44.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Utah. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $45K get you in Utah?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Utah
Pay for set and exhibit designers in Utah runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $75K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,350/month, which is 45.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.54) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. 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, Utah
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $21K. Mid-career wages sit at $45K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Utah
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City-Murray | $64K | +44% | 160 |
| Provo-Orem-Lehi | $45K | +0% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Utah numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Utah?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $45K, rent takes 45.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,350/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/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 Utah?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $21K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,266/month. At HUD’s $1,350/month FMR, rent would take 107% 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 Utah?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $45K here vs. $75K nationally.
How does Utah compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Utah pays $45K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Utah?
The median is $44,540 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $21,100, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $96,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $45K enough to live in Utah?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,980/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,350/month, which eats 45.3% 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 Utah?
Utah has a Regional Price Parity of 98.54 (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 $45,200 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.