The average wage for a set designer in the United States is around $13.39 per hour.
Avg Wage
Set designers earn an average hourly wage of $13.39.
Salaries typically start from $10.13 per hour and go up to $29.18 per hour.
41% below national average Updated in 2018
Set designer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level set designer earnings begin at:
$29.18 per hour
$60,694 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level set designer earnings begin at:
$18.53 per hour
$38,538 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level set designer earnings begin at:
$13.39 per hour
$27,847 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level set designer earnings begin at:
$11.03 per hour
$22,945 per year
10th percentile
Starting level set designer earnings begin at:
$10.13 per hour
$21,075 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
How do set designer salaries compare to similar careers?
Set designers earn 16% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than sports broadcasters but more than projectionists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sports broadcaster salary | $40K |
| Camera operator salary | $50K |
| Gaffer salary | $36K |
| Model maker salary | $53K |
| Costume attendant salary | $41K |
| Set designer salary | $28K |
| Announcer salary | $33K |
| Projectionist salary | $23K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)