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Job outlook for set designers in the United States
Are set designer jobs in demand?
Set designer job and salary trends over time
Set designer jobs over time
Set designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,743 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,397 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,821 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,241 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,601 | 0.00% |
Average set designer salary over time
Set designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $57,970 | $27.87 | +6.6% |
| 2024 | $54,403 | $26.16 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $54,074 | $26.00 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $52,898 | $25.43 | +4.1% |
| 2021 | $50,806 | $24.43 | +2.9% |
Set designer jobs by state
Most common states for set designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 193 | 28% |
| 2 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 769 | 10% |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 663 | 10% |
| 4 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 426 | 10% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 120 | 9% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,044 | 8% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 673 | 8% |
| 8 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 242 | 8% |
| 9 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 688 | 7% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 386 | 7% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 373 | 7% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 79 | 7% |
| 13 | Vermont | 623,657 | 43 | 7% |
| 14 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,176 | 6% |
| 15 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 355 | 6% |
| 16 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 336 | 6% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 205 | 6% |
| 18 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 119 | 6% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 75 | 6% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 57 | 6% |
Set Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of set designer experts
Beloit College
Highline College
Bowling Green State University
Belmont University
Eastern Illinois University
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
Albion College
Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
Loyola University Chicago
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
What general advice would you give to a Set Designer?
Shelbi Wilkin: Day to day work can vary when working as a designer for theatre. When not researching and analyzing plays, designers work on rendering designs, budgets, and sourcing materials. Designers can expect regular meetings with a production team and shop supervisors for their discipline. As a costume designer my role would be to meet with costume shop managers and drapers to ensure designs are realized per my vision, attend fittings for actors, tech rehearsals, photo calls, and strike for a performance. How much the costume designer engages with a shop or builds costumes themselves depends on the institution hiring.
What Set Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Shelbi Wilkin: Theatre is a highly collaborative artistic space. It allows artists the freedom to create and present their art while receiving a steady paycheck. This collaborative environment produces strong community ties to other theatre artists. As a designer, I get to wear many hats, I enjoy the diverse research and analysis that goes into every design for a production. I then get to use that research to create dynamic costume designs for the stage.
What will help Set Designers increase their earning potential?
Shelbi Wilkin: Not all theater's pay wages proportionately to the work and expertise asked of theatre artists. Many established theatre artists are working to change this culture in the industry, especially for early career professionals.
What soft skills should all Set Designers possess?
Diana Boyd: -Collaboration/Teamwork
-Interpersonal
-Reliability
-Ethical behavior
-Self-starter
Jenn Stucker
Associate Professor, Chair of The Graphic Design DivisionBowling Green State University
School of Art
What soft skills should all Set Designers possess?
Jenn Stucker: A good designer's soft skills include empathy, critical thinking, context, collaboration, leadership, networking, and the ability to present and articulate ideas.
Doug Regen
Professor of PracticeBelmont University
Graphic Design Department
What skills stand out on Set Designer resumes?
Doug Regen: Ability to problem-solve with strong creative solutions. Innovative. Detail-oriented. Ability to design creative solutions based on research...understanding the target audience, trends, etc.
What skills will help Set Designers earn the most?
Doug Regen: Brilliant Ideas are executed flawlessly. Team player. Ability to motivate and lead others. Strong communicator and presentation skills.
Samantha Osborne
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design, Owner, Samantha Osborne DesignEastern Illinois University
Art + Design
What skills stand out on Set Designer resumes?
Samantha Osborne: Soft skills are equally important to hard skills. Graphic designers are visual communicators. Visual communication is a universal learned skill, vs. a linguistic capability. This means that graphic designers must learn to recognize and effectively utilize mood and tone in their own visual compositions in regard to color theory and psychology, gestalt principles, and font or lettering design. Essentially a well-skilled graphic designer becomes part psychologist in working through design problems and deciphering client direction, part problem-solver in developing an effective solution to the design problem, and part artist in bringing astonishing and original visual communication and graphics to reach a solution.
What soft skills should all Set Designers possess?
Samantha Osborne: Three soft skills stand out most: an ability to see the big picture, an ability to "read" people, and an ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s).
i. An ability to see big picture: there are an infinite number of details in graphic design, whether you work in website design on the front or back end, or in print media with physical outputs. It's easy to get caught up on the details, especially when clients are making specific demands about things such as paper type. A skilled designer must be able to see beyond the details and look at the big picture for an effective design solution. For example, a client may be asking for an invitation design for an up-coming event. A skilled designer will ask questions and dig in, eventually uncovering that perhaps for a successful event, the client also needs a splash page and social media, either in place of or in addition to an invitation. A skilled designer addresses design problems holistically, rather than minutely.
ii. An ability to "read" people: designers are trained in art-specific vocabulary. Hue, saturation, pixels, gestalt...most non-art folks don't use or speak that language. When clients are describing their goals, they aren't using art-vocabulary. It's a designer's job to translate what the client is saying into an advanced and effective creative solution. They must be able to speak and understand the language of non-creative folks, as well as the language of the broader creative industry.
iii. An ability to make a convincing argument for your design solution(s): many young and inexperienced designer tend to get their hearts broken when a client smashes one of their [very well thought-out] ideas. Rather than rolling over, a designer must learn to navigate how best to build support for their idea(s). That might mean in some instances you work more fluidly with the client throughout the design process, so that they feel they have ownership in the development of the solution. In other instances it might mean that the designer is presenting options, rather than a single solution, so that the client feels empowered to make choices throughout the design process. And in some instances, it might be a matter of better explaining and presenting your idea to a client; perhaps the designer needs to push back more, perhaps they need to provide more research as to why their solution is best, or maybe they simply need to present it with more excitement and enthusiasm.
What general advice would you give to a Set Designer?
Abby Guido: We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.
Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Set Designer job market given the pandemic?
Lisa TenHulzen: This is a big question. Because of the financial strains the pandemic has placed on the entertainment industry, I suspect we will see trends towards smaller cast shows as well as simpler productions, overall. I believe this will help to ease some of the financial burdens a large cast and crew can place on a theatre, as well as help ease the audience back into a sense of security. Depending on the location of the production, an audience might not feel comfortable attending a large-scale performance. Smaller shows lend themselves better to smaller audiences. All of this to say, I believe theatre jobs will be in short supply for quite some time. At least until theatres are able to make up some of the financial losses. This means hiring will be limited to core positions of production such as directors, stage managers, technical directors, designers, and only a few technicians. For smaller theatres, we will most likely see theatre artists taking on multiple jobs within the production.
What Set Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa TenHulzen: What skills need to be enhanced really depends on the area of the theatre they traditionally worked in. For makers and artisans, I would suggest pursuing any hobby or job that will continue to stretch your creative side. You do not want to go for an extended period of time without making something with your hands. The same goes for the directors and actors, but find something where you can use your creative analysis and presentation skills. Start a podcast, read new plays, make videos, etc. The skill of a theatre artist can stagnate if it is not used. Take advantage of the time you have, and pursue a personal creative project.
What general advice would you give to a Set Designer?
Lisa TenHulzen: Work hard. I don't have to tell you that being successful in the theatre business is extremely difficult, even at the best of times. Post-pandemic, I believe this will be even harder. You have to be able to push yourself to become stronger, more professional and more driven than you ever anticipated. Being in the theatre professionally is not easy, and if you expect it to be, you are in the wrong field. Even the most talented among us have to work their tails off to be successful. Pursue anything and everything that comes your way, be kind to your colleagues, and be collaborative. Understand that there are 100 more artists waiting to take your place, so treat each position with the respect it deserves. One thing that will not change post-pandemic is how small the theatre world is and how much that can help or hinder you based on the relationships you build.
Carmita Sanchez-Fong
Professor and ChairpersonFashion Institute of Technology, SUNY
Interior Design Department
What Set Designer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Carmita Sanchez-Fong: Sketch, sketch, sketch, and work on your portfolio. Use the many resources at FIT to stay current with technology, including 3d printing, laser cutting, and virtual reality. Volunteer with one of the professional organizations, attend virtual conferences, enter a competition, develop your personal/professional profile, and become familiar with digital material resources. Work on your research and presentation skills. Create a well-organized digital library of your 2d and 3d assets. Prepare yourself to go back. Take some masterclasses. Volunteer as a virtual artist-in-residence at a local school. Be creative, remain engaged.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Set Designers?
Carmita Sanchez-Fong: The effects of shrinking economic activity and prolonged uncertainty will affect every sector of the economy. Turn these disruptions into opportunities. You must evolve and grow as a person and as an interior designer. Business models are changing. Be resilient, and don't let your passion wane.
How do you envision technology impacting Set Designers in the next 5 years?
Michel Balasis: With the constant tech evolution trend continuing to accelerate, Graphic Designers must be even more diligent in keeping up with how their audience (amongst even wider demographics) receives and shares their information. The number and variety of hand-held devices with screens of all sizes, and higher resolution for graphic information, has increased to a point where it is difficult to keep up in just the last five years. We can only imagine the next wave of innovations, all of which are tied to tightened economic forecasts. It is both challenging and unfortunate that the next wave of designers will be in an almost constant catch-up mode.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Set Designers in the next 3-5 years?
Michelle Lockwood: A year ago, even six months ago, we would never have expected our lives to have taken the turns they have, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In that same sense, we cannot know what obstacles we will encounter in the next year, six months, or even next week. The aspect of technology that seems most important now is software that can bring the human experience of connection into our individual and separated lives. Technology has enabled those of us in design and applied arts, to continue creating and communicating. As always has been, technology is a tool, but it is not usually the entire idea. Yes, every message is altered and influenced by the medium with which it was created. Still, those beginning in this field need to remember that their uniqueness comes from the union of what is in their mind and their heart, and how they articulate and communicate that union.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Set Designers?
Michelle Lockwood: Oh, yes! There will be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on graduates, and all of us. It has already changed so much about how we interact, do business, socialize, learn, love, and just plain live. There is no way that it could not impact the future of this field, or any area, in my opinion. I think the job market will look very different in the months and years to come. We will adapt, and there will be more opportunities for creativity, more problems to solve, and more chances to engage and inform. But those practicing will need to remain flexible, adapt gracefully to changing circumstances, and find pockets where they can solve problems, and use their unique skillset to illuminate, inform, and delight -- just as we have always done -- only differently.