Design and plan sets and exhibits for theater, film, television, and museums.
You may also see this posted as: Display Coordinator, Exhibit Designer, Scenic Designer, Set Designer, Designer, Exhibit Coordinator.
Theaters, studios, museums, and workshops
Project-based, long hours near openings
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
Enterprising
leading, persuading, selling, or turning an idea into action
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 63.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: Bachelor's degree + portfolio.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: None.
No license required to start in most places.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Designs the physical spaces for stage, film, and museum exhibits, much of it freelance and project-based.
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Standard Occupational Classification 27-1027. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.