# Set and Exhibit Designers

US SOC code 27-1027. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/27-1027

Also called: Set designer, Exhibit designer, Scenic designer, Stage designer, Museum exhibit designer.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **10,630** US set and exhibit designers, with median pay of **$75,240** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2021, the highest was **10,850**, in May 2024, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History) of **3,500** from 1920, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for set and exhibit designers: Cinema 4D / V-Ray rendering + digital physical model replacement, 2008 to 2019.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 1.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-1027&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **35.9%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend.

## Set and Exhibit Designers employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1897
- Latest US employment: 10,630 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [5]
- Latest US median pay: $75,240 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [8]
- Outlook: +1.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [24]

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1920 | 3,500 (estimate) | n/a | Est., USA 829 History page [1] |
| 1960 | 6,000 (estimate) | $4,800 (estimate) | Est., Wikipedia (employment) [2]; Est., USA 829 History (pay) [6] |
| 1980 | 9,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., United Scenic Artists Records [3] |
| 2000 | 8,470 | $31,440 | BLS OEWS 2000 [4] |
| 2003 | 8,060 | $35,150 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [5] |
| 2004 | 8,750 | $35,800 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [5] |
| 2005 | 8,380 | $37,390 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [5] |
| 2006 | 8,320 | $41,820 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [5] |
| 2007 | 8,620 | $43,220 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [5] |
| 2008 | 7,940 | $44,660 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [5] |
| 2009 | 7,940 | $45,400 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [5] |
| 2010 | 8,120 | $46,680 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [5] |
| 2011 | 8,510 | $48,480 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [5] |
| 2012 | 8,680 | $50,300 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [5] |
| 2013 | 9,750 | $50,000 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [5] |
| 2014 | 10,460 | $49,810 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [5] |
| 2015 | 11,930 | $49,530 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [5] |
| 2016 | 12,060 | $50,990 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [5] |
| 2017 | 11,490 | $53,090 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [5] |
| 2018 | 10,590 | $54,270 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [5] |
| 2019 | 12,040 | $54,600 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [5] |
| 2020 | 10,980 | $58,180 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [5] |
| 2021 | 6,850 | $54,860 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [5] |
| 2022 | 9,490 | $59,990 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [5] |
| 2023 | 10,090 | $59,490 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [5] |
| 2024 | 10,850 | $66,280 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [5] |
| 2025 | 10,630 | $75,240 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [5] |

## Sources (92)

### Employment series

1. [USA 829 History page -- United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 (founded 1897, union history)](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History), United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
2. [Wikipedia -- United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT founded September 21, 1960)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Institute_for_Theatre_Technology), Wikipedia
3. [United Scenic Artists Records -- NYU Special Collections Finding Aid (WAG.065, membership history)](https://findingaids.library.nyu.edu/tamwag/wag_065/), NYU Tamiment Library / United Scenic Artists
4. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
5. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)

### Wage series

6. [USA 829 History -- United Scenic Artists union wage history and collective bargaining (estimated from theatrical labor context)](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History), United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
7. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
8. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
9. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Tool eras

10. [Wikipedia -- Nineteenth-century theatrical scenery (history of the box set and scenic realism)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteenth-century_theatrical_scenery), Wikipedia
11. [USA 829 History -- United Scenic Artists, founded 1897 as United Scenic Artists Association](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History), United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
12. [Wikipedia -- Robert Edmond Jones (New Stagecraft, 1915 Broadway debut, scenic design history)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Edmond_Jones), Wikipedia
13. [Wikipedia -- Jo Mielziner (career overview, 300 Broadway productions, 7 Tony Awards)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Mielziner), Wikipedia
14. [Britannica -- Jo Mielziner (scenic and lighting designer, poetic realism, career history)](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jo-Mielziner), Encyclopaedia Britannica
15. [Wikipedia -- United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT, founded September 21, 1960)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Institute_for_Theatre_Technology), Wikipedia
16. [Making the Museum -- "When Exhibition Design Got Its Name" (history of exhibition design professionalization)](https://www.makingthemuseum.com/newsletter/when-exhibition-design-got-its-name), Making the Museum
17. [Wikipedia -- Vectorworks (software history, rebranded from MiniCAD, Nemetschek acquisition 2000)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectorworks), Wikipedia
18. [Number Analytics -- "Mastering Theatrical Drafting in Scenic Design" (CAD tools in theatrical practice)](https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/mastering-theatrical-drafting), Number Analytics
19. [Chaos -- V-Ray for Cinema 4D (rendering in Cinema 4D with V-Ray for artists and designers)](https://www.chaos.com/vray/cinema-4d), Chaos
20. [Number Analytics -- "Theatre Design Software for Scenic Design" (overview of digital tools in contemporary theatrical practice)](https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/theatre-design-software-for-scenic-design), Number Analytics
21. [Epic Games -- Unreal Engine Virtual Production Documentation (ICVFX, LED volume stages, nDisplay)](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/virtual-production-in-unreal-engine), Epic Games
22. [Futuresource Consulting -- "LED volume making waves in virtual production" (200 ICVFX volumes by end of 2023, 18% CAGR)](https://www.futuresource-consulting.com/the-source/industry-pulse/led-volume-making-waves-in-virtual-production/), Futuresource Consulting
23. [Arts Management and Technology Lab -- "Behind the LED Wall: Technology, Labor, and Economics in Virtual Production" (2025)](https://amt-lab.org/blog/2025/12/behind-the-led-wall-technology-labor-and-economics-in-virtual-production), Arts Management and Technology Lab

### Forecasts and exposure studies

24. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 27-1027 Set and exhibit designers (2025: 31.6 thousand; 2035: 32.0 thousand; +1.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=27-1027&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
25. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 27-1027.00, human-rated β 0.359)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

26. [USA 829 History -- United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829 (founded 1897)](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History), United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
27. [Britannica -- Robert Edmond Jones (New Stagecraft, January 27, 1915 Broadway debut)](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Edmond-Jones), Encyclopaedia Britannica
28. [Wikipedia -- Jo Mielziner (Death of a Salesman 1949, transparent skeletal framework setting)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jo_Mielziner), Wikipedia
29. [Wikipedia -- United States Institute for Theatre Technology (September 21, 1960 founding)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Institute_for_Theatre_Technology), Wikipedia
30. [IATSE -- "The membership of the United Scenic Artists Local 829 votes to reaffiliate with IATSE" (April 27, 1999)](https://www.legacy.iatse.net/history/membership-united-scenic-artists-local-829-votes-reaffiliate-iatse), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees
31. [Epic Games -- Unreal Engine Virtual Production (ICVFX, LED volume, The Mandalorian StageCraft)](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/virtual-production-in-unreal-engine), Epic Games
32. [SMU DataArts -- COVID-19 Research on Nonprofit Performing Arts (pandemic losses estimated to exceed $3.2 billion through December 2021)](https://culturaldata.org/crisis-relief-and-resources/data-insights/), SMU DataArts

### Predecessors & successors

33. [USA 829 History -- United Scenic Artists Association founded 1897, scene painters as forerunner](https://www.usa829.org/About-Our-Union/History), United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829
34. [Making the Museum -- "When Exhibition Design Got Its Name" (architects as early exhibition designers before the profession formalized)](https://www.makingthemuseum.com/newsletter/when-exhibition-design-got-its-name), Making the Museum
35. [USITT -- About USITT (professional development for theatre design and technology students and practitioners)](https://www.usitt.org/about), United States Institute for Theatre Technology
36. [BLS OOH -- Art Directors (SOC 27-1011, includes production designers in film/television)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/art-directors.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Set and Exhibit Designers (27-1027.00)](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-1027.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Set and Exhibit Designers (2024-25)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/set-and-exhibit-designers.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [USITT — Industry News (United States Institute for Theatre Technology)](https://www.usitt.org/industry-resources/news), accessed 2026-06-21
- [Live Design Magazine — Virtual Production Transforms Set Design (2026)](https://www.livedesignonline.com/technology/virtual-production-set-design-2026), accessed 2026-05-24
- [American Theatre — What Can AI Do for the Arts? (2025)](https://www.americantheatre.org/2025/06/19/what-can-ai-do-for-the-arts/), accessed 2026-06-21
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science)](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Epic Games — Unreal Engine Virtual Production Documentation (2025-2026)](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/virtual-production-in-unreal-engine), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Krea AI — Real-time AI Canvas for Design Professionals (2025-2026)](https://www.krea.ai/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Boords — AI Storyboard Generator for Pre-Visualization (2026)](https://boords.com/ai-storyboard-generator), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Vectorworks 2026 — Renderworks AI Visualization and Design Assist](https://www.vectorworks.net/en-AU/2026), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Chaos Group — V-Ray for Cinema 4D: AI-Assisted Rendering for Set and Exhibit Design](https://www.chaos.com/vray/cinema-4d), accessed 2026-06-21
- [Tripo3D — AI 3D Model Generation from Text and Images (2026)](https://www.tripo3d.ai/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Meshy AI — 3D Asset Generation for Design Professionals (2026)](https://www.meshy.ai/), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.