Chooses and places the furniture, drapery, art and objects that make a film or TV set feel lived in. BLS does not publish separate figures for set and exhibit designers; it counts them within set and exhibit designer (SOC 27-1027), whose median pay is $75,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 27-1027
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Set Decorator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $75,240a year, or $36.17/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $42KTop 10% $135K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +1.4%Slower than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+1.4%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +1.4% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2,20031,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202531.6K
- Projected 203532K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 31.6K Projected 2035 32K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college9.5%
- Associate's4.8%
- Bachelor's33.3%
- Master's33.3%
- Post-master’s certificate9.5%
- Professional degree4.8%
Highest education held by set and exhibit designers Segment Value Some college 9.5% Associate's 4.8% Bachelor's 33.3% Master's 33.3% Post-master’s certificate 9.5% Professional degree 4.8%
Also advertised as: Film Set Decorator, Set Dresser, Leadman, Assistant Set Decorator, Set Decoration Buyer.
Pay
How much do Set and Exhibit Designers make?
Every set decorator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$75,240
Middle half earn $52,830 to $104,030
- 10th
- $41,750
- 25th
- $52,830
- 75th
- $104,030
- 90th
- $135,410
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $41,750 |
| 25th | $52,830 |
| Median | $75,240 |
| 75th | $104,030 |
| 90th | $135,410 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $75,240
- Median hourly wage
- $36.17/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $83,160
- People employed
- 10,630
Versus all US occupations
At $75,240, Set and Exhibit Designers earn 48% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $24,260 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 11% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $135,410 or more while the bottom 10% earn $41,750, a gap of 3.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 50% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $105,030, and still leads at $94,861 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Set and Exhibit Designers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $105,030 | $94,861 | 2,690 |
| 2Maryland | $80,540 | $76,735 | 420 |
| 3Washington | $77,230 | $72,169 | 170 |
| 4District of Columbia | $76,900 | $69,972 | 190 |
| 5New Jersey | $76,380 | $70,199 | 220 |
| 6Massachusetts | $74,540 | $70,482 | 230 |
| 7Nebraska | $73,980 | $82,106 | 50 |
| 8Indiana | $72,200 | $77,361 | 110 |
| 9Georgia | $67,210 | $69,797 | 310 |
| 10Minnesota | $66,090 | $67,014 | 150 |
Job outlook
Is Set Decorator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Slower than average. +1.4% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Set and Exhibit Designers | +1.4% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Slower than average
BLS projects employment of Set and Exhibit Designers to change 1.4% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 500 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,200 openings are projected each year, 7.0% of the 31,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Set Decorator
Many set decorators studied interior design, theatre design, art history or fine arts. Most start as set dressers, buyers or art department assistants on independent films, commercials and theatre, learning the network of vendors and prop houses that the job depends on.
The Set Decorators Society of America (SDSA) is the professional association for the field and connects decorators with vendors and resources. In Los Angeles and other production centers, set decorators and set dressers are generally members of IATSE Local 44 or a regional IATSE local, which requires qualifying days on union productions.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as set and exhibit designers.
- Bachelor's Degree33.3%
- Master's Degree33.3%
- Some College Courses9.5%
- Post-Master's Certificate9.5%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree4.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 33.3% |
| Master's Degree | 33.3% |
| Some College Courses | 9.5% |
| Post-Master's Certificate | 9.5% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 4.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Set Decorator do?
Set decorators fill the spaces that production designers create. For each set, they decide what furniture, rugs, lamps, books, artwork and clutter would belong to the character who lives or works there, then source those items from prop houses, antique dealers, rental warehouses and custom fabricators.
They lead the set decoration crew, including a lead person, buyers and set dressers, and manage a budget for purchases and rentals. They work closely with the production designer, the cinematographer on practical lamps and light sources, and the prop master to separate what actors handle from what simply dresses the background. After the shoot, the crew strikes and returns everything.
Day-to-day tasks
- Read scripts and identify the dressing needs of each set
- Research period, culture and character details for decor
- Source furniture, art and objects from prop houses and dealers
- Manage purchase and rental budgets and paperwork
- Direct set dressers in placing and adjusting decor
- Coordinate practical lamps with the lighting team
- Supervise the strike and return of rented items
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Set decorators split time between production offices, warehouses, vendors and sets on stages or locations. The work involves driving, shopping, lifting and arranging heavy items, and long days during prep and shooting. Projects run from weeks to many months.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Listening3.9
- Speaking3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Writing3.3
- Active Learning3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Analysis3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Coordination3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Persuasion3.0
- Negotiation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Set Decorator?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code AER) built on O*NET's Set and Exhibit Designer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Set Decorator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 4 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 7 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 5 |
| Conventional | 3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions.
- Artistic6.7
- Enterprising4.6
- Realistic4.2
- Conventional3.3
- Social3.0
- Investigative2.8
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Set Decorator
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Fine Artist, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
$55,490median a year
Most earn $32K to $144K
−2.9%Bachelor's - Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with set and exhibit designers highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Set Decorator$75,240
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Set Decorator | $75,240 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Set Decorator appears on
Questions
Set Decorator: frequently asked questions
How much do Set and Exhibit Designers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for set and exhibit designers. It counts them within set and exhibit designer, whose median pay is $75,240 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $52,830 and $104,030, and the top 10% earn $135,410 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Set Decorator?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Set and Exhibit Designers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 33.3% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Set Decorator a growing career?
It is growing, but slowly: 1.4% over 2025–2035 against 3.5% for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 2,200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Set Decorator do?
Set decorators fill the spaces that production designers create. A typical task: read scripts and identify the dressing needs of each set. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Data base user interface and query software, Desktop publishing software.
Which states pay Set and Exhibit Designers the most?
The highest state medians for Set and Exhibit Designers are California ($105,030), Maryland ($80,540), Washington ($77,230) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Set Decorator?
O*NET scores Set and Exhibit Designers highest on the Artistic, Enterprising and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with leading, persuading, selling and making decisions. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFP, ENFP, ENTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.