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Set designer salary
Average set designer salary
$57,970
Average Set Designer Salary
The average salary for a Set Designer in the United States is $57,970 per year. However, salaries can vary significantly based on location, experience, and industry. Those with specialized skills or working in high-demand areas may earn more. For example, set designers in major cities like New York and Los Angeles typically see higher salaries due to the cost of living and greater demand for productions.
Where Can a Set Designer Earn More?
Set designers can pursue opportunities in various sectors, including film, television, theater, and event planning. The highest-paying industries for set designers include film production and television broadcasting. Additionally, working for reputable companies or on major productions can lead to increased compensation and benefits.
Set Designer Salary Estimates from Across the Web
Salary data from different sources indicates a competitive market for set designers. Websites like Glassdoor and PayScale provide insights into salary ranges, showcasing how experience and qualifications impact earnings. By staying informed about industry trends and salary expectations, aspiring set designers can make strategic career decisions.
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Where can a Set Designer earn more?
Set designer salary estimates from across the web
Average set designer salary by state
The highest-paying states for set designers are New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. The lowest average set designer salary states are Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for set designers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $72,269 | $34.74 |
| 2 | New York | $72,934 | $35.06 |
| 3 | Michigan | $68,401 | $32.89 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $74,183 | $35.66 |
| 5 | Utah | $61,868 | $29.74 |
| 6 | Texas | $63,734 | $30.64 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $68,634 | $33.00 |
| 8 | Illinois | $63,549 | $30.55 |
| 9 | California | $63,776 | $30.66 |
| 10 | Georgia | $60,664 | $29.17 |
| 11 | Oregon | $60,077 | $28.88 |
| 12 | Arkansas | $61,651 | $29.64 |
| 13 | Kansas | $61,652 | $29.64 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $62,306 | $29.95 |
| 15 | Iowa | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $62,566 | $30.08 |
| 17 | Ohio | $58,148 | $27.96 |
| 18 | Maryland | $61,687 | $29.66 |
| 19 | Washington | $55,764 | $26.81 |
| 20 | Colorado | $56,800 | $27.31 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $53,245 | $25.60 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $55,121 | $26.50 |
| 23 | Alaska | $61,810 | $29.72 |
| 24 | West Virginia | $57,931 | $27.85 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $52,221 | $25.11 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $55,796 | $26.82 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $52,916 | $25.44 |
| 28 | Nevada | $54,385 | $26.15 |
| 29 | Montana | $57,324 | $27.56 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $51,310 | $24.67 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $54,747 | $26.32 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $52,109 | $25.05 |
| 33 | North Dakota | $55,415 | $26.64 |
| 34 | Maine | $50,929 | $24.49 |
| 35 | Missouri | $54,097 | $26.01 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $53,478 | $25.71 |
| 37 | District of Columbia | $48,844 | $23.48 |
| 38 | Mississippi | $52,736 | $25.35 |
| 39 | Idaho | $52,344 | $25.17 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| 41 | Virginia | $48,203 | $23.17 |
| 42 | Vermont | $49,463 | $23.78 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $45,987 | $22.11 |
| 44 | Delaware | $50,444 | $24.25 |
| 45 | Arizona | $48,882 | $23.50 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $47,026 | $22.61 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $44,786 | $21.53 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $52,274 | $25.13 |
| 49 | Indiana | $45,910 | $22.07 |
| 50 | Florida | $44,975 | $21.62 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,918 | $20.63 |
Highest paying cities for set designers
The highest-paying cities for set designers are New Windsor, NY, Danville, CA, and Towson, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Windsor, NY | $73,160 | $35.17 |
| 2 | Danville, CA | $72,746 | $34.97 |
| 3 | Towson, MD | $62,176 | $29.89 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $60,891 | $29.27 |
| 5 | Kirkland, WA | $56,358 | $27.10 |
| 6 | Metairie, LA | $53,266 | $25.61 |
| 7 | Orlando, FL | $45,409 | $21.83 |
Set designer salary details
A set designer's salary ranges from $35,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a set designer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $57,970 | $4,831 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $35,000 | $2,917 | $17 |
Highest paying set designer jobs
The highest paying types of set designers are designer, stage set designer, and exhibition designer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $49,450 | $4,121 | $23.77 | 45,625 |
| Production Designer | $54,760 | $4,563 | $26.33 | 96,682 |
| Exhibition Designer | $62,371 | $5,198 | $29.99 | 45,425 |
| Freelance Designer | $57,260 | $4,772 | $27.53 | 45,914 |
| Interior Designer | $52,482 | $4,373 | $25.23 | 48,020 |
| Designer | $66,347 | $5,529 | $31.90 | 52,433 |
Top companies hiring set designers now:
Which companies pay set designers the most?
Set designer salaries at Stanley Black & Decker and Poly Prep Country Day School are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average set designer salary at companies like Russell Sage College and Performance Space New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanley Black & Decker | $90,378 | $43.45 |
| 2 | Poly Prep Country Day School | $74,422 | $35.78 |
| 3 | Russell Sage College | $66,778 | $32.10 |
| 4 | Performance Space New York | $57,009 | $27.41 |
| 5 | Universal City Studios Productions LLLP | $57,009 | $27.41 |
| 6 | Thinkwell | $56,386 | $27.11 |
| 7 | Epic Technologies | $55,875 | $26.86 |
| 8 | Royal Productions | $55,421 | $26.64 |
| 9 | Blackdot | $55,311 | $26.59 |
| 10 | Weld RE-4 School District | $54,583 | $26.24 |
| 11 | Pioneer High School | $50,873 | $24.46 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Set Designer salary by industry
The average set designer salary varies across industries:
- The average set designer salary in the education industry is $57,388, the highest of any industry.
- The average set designer salary in the finance industry is $57,312.
- Set designers in the manufacturing industry earn an average salary of $56,073, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for set designers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $57,388 | $27.59 |
| 2 | Hospitality | $57,312 | $27.55 |
| 3 | Retail | $56,310 | $27.07 |
| 4 | Media | $56,105 | $26.97 |
| 5 | Manufacturing | $56,073 | $26.96 |
High paying set designer jobs
Set designer salary trends
The average set designer salary has risen by $9,665 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average set designer earned $48,305 annually, but today, they earn $57,970 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for set designers over the last decade.
Compare set designer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average set designer salary over time
Compare set designer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Set designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,000 | $27.87 | +6.2% |
| 2024 | $54,400 | $26.16 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $54,100 | $26.00 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $52,900 | $25.43 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | $50,800 | $24.43 | +2.9% |
Recently added set designer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Systems Group | Art Department-Set Designer | New York, NY | 05/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| Corporate J. Crew Group | Set Designer | New York, NY | 02/21/2025 | $120,800 |
| Advanced Systems Group, LLC | Art Department-Set Designer | Los Angeles, CA | 02/18/2025 | $58,436 |
| Asgllc | Art Department-Set Designer | New York, NY | 01/26/2025 | $58,436 |
| New Ulm Public Schools | High School Play-Set Designer | Nore, MN | 01/17/2025 | $43,138 |
| Playbill, Inc. | Paid Lullaby Land Set Designer Spellbound Theatre Brooklyn, NY US/2024 | New York, NY | 12/06/2024 | $41,740 |
| Asgllc | Art Department-Set Designer | New York, NY | 12/01/2024 | $85,000 |
| Jcrew | Set Designer | New York, NY | 11/25/2024 | $120,800 |
| Advanced Systems Group | Art Department-Set Designer | New York, NY | 11/22/2024 | $85,000 |
| J.Crew Group | Set Designer | New York, NY | 10/24/2024 | $120,800 |
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