Set and Exhibit Designers Salary
The median pay for a set and exhibit designers in Washington is $77,230/year ($37.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $75,708 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,830/month, about 34.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Washington?
About set and exhibit designers
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What this looks like in Washington
Set and exhibit designers pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $75K nationwide, a 3% difference. Rent runs $1,830/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level set and exhibit designers (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $110K spread from bottom to top.
Set and Exhibit Designers salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $77K | +0% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track set and exhibit designers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a set and exhibit designer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new set and exhibit designers typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,233/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $75K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for set and exhibit designers?
Washington pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $75K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do set and exhibit designers make in Washington?
The median is $77,230 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,880, and experienced set and exhibit designers can clear $164,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,226/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 35% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median set and exhibit designers salary is worth about $75,708 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.