Set and Exhibit Designers
SOC Code: 27-1027 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Design special exhibits and sets for film, video, television, and theater productions. May study scripts, confer with directors, and conduct research to determine appropriate architectural styles.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Set and Exhibit Designers. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utica-Rome, NY | $55,848 | $82,014 | $108,160 | $134,326 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $60,299 | $83,117 | $105,955 | $128,773 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $60,133 | $82,430 | $104,749 | $127,046 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $69,555 | $88,629 | $107,702 | $126,776 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $69,430 | $88,400 | $107,349 | $126,318 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $68,390 | $87,526 | $106,642 | $125,778 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $65,811 | $85,613 | $105,435 | $125,237 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $55,682 | $78,811 | $101,920 | $125,050 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $56,014 | $79,019 | $102,003 | $125,008 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $55,702 | $78,770 | $101,816 | $124,883 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Gallagher & Associates LLC | 3 | $68,765 |
| Chanel, Inc. | 3 | $121,589 |
| Moey Inc. | 2 | $72,800 |
| G&A Strategy and Design LLC | 2 | $75,000 |
| MEGA EXHIBIT, INC | 2 | $42,141 |
| Maitland 175 Inc. | 2 | $51,000 |
| Extra Measure Entertainment LLC | 2 | $62,000 |
| George P. Johnson Company | 2 | $94,353 |
| Kadan Productions, LLC | 2 | $62,400 |
| Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | 2 | $66,000 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 | $55,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | $47,540 |
| 2022 | 6 | $82,049 |
| 2023 | 11 | $70,493 |
| 2024 | 14 | $66,245 |
| 2025 | 23 | $73,294 |
| 2026 | 1 | $124,388 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Time Management | 3.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 | |
| Operations Analysis | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.8 | |
| Coordination | 3.5 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | |
| Writing | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Fine Arts | 5.0 |
| Design | 4.9 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.8 |
| Building and Construction | 3.5 |
| History and Archeology | 3.4 |
| English Language | 3.2 |
| Communications and Media | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 33.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 33.3% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 9.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.5% |
| Post-first professional | 4.8% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 4.8% |
| Associate's degree | 4.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Examine objects to be included in exhibits to plan where and how to display them.
- Acquire, or arrange for acquisition of, specimens or graphics required to complete exhibits.
- Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- Estimate set- or exhibit-related costs, including materials, construction, and rental of props or locations.
- Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- Inspect installed exhibits for conformance to specifications and satisfactory operation of special-effects components.
- Plan for location-specific issues, such as space limitations, traffic flow patterns, and safety concerns.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat Adobe After Effects Adobe Creative Cloud software Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word
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