Set and exhibit designers
SOC Code: 27-1027
Set and exhibit designers carries a 36% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $66,280 and +2.3% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 31,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Set and exhibit designers (SOC 27-1027) carries an AI exposure score of 36%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 31,300 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +2.3% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $66,280, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Bachelor's degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Set and exhibit designers. Public companies with meaningful exposure to this occupation, such as NETFLIX INC and Walt Disney Co, inherit a share of the same automation risk through their industry classification. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Develop set designs, based on evaluation of scripts, budgets, research information, and available locations.
- 2. Prepare rough drafts and scale working drawings of sets, including floor plans, scenery, and properties to be constructed.
- 3. Prepare preliminary renderings of proposed exhibits, including detailed construction, layout, and material specifications, and diagrams relating to aspects such as special effects or lighting.
- 4. Read scripts to determine location, set, and design requirements.
- 5. Submit plans for approval, and adapt plans to serve intended purposes, or to conform to budget or fabrication restrictions.
- 6. Attend rehearsals and production meetings to obtain and share information related to sets.
- 7. Confer with clients and staff to gather information about exhibit space, proposed themes and content, timelines, budgets, materials, or promotion requirements.
- 8. Research architectural and stylistic elements appropriate to the time period to be depicted, consulting experts for information, as necessary.
- 9. Observe sets during rehearsals in order to ensure that set elements do not interfere with performance aspects such as cast movement and camera angles.
- 10. Collaborate with those in charge of lighting and sound so that those production aspects can be coordinated with set designs or exhibit layouts.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Analysis
- Time Management
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Writing
Knowledge Areas
- Fine Arts
- Design
- Computers and Electronics
- Building and Construction
- History and Archeology
- English Language
- Communications and Media
- Production and Processing
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Set and exhibit designers?
Set and exhibit designers has an AI exposure score of 36%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Set and exhibit designers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Set and exhibit designers is projected to grow by 2.3% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 31,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Set and exhibit designers?
Key skills for Set and exhibit designers include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Bachelor's degree.
How much do Set and exhibit designers earn?
The median annual wage for Set and exhibit designers is $66,280, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Set and exhibit designers?
The typical entry-level education for Set and exhibit designers is Bachelor's degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Set and exhibit designers?
Public companies with significant Set and exhibit designers workforce shares include NETFLIX INC, Walt Disney Co, Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., among others. These employers are mapped by industry classification (SIC/NAICS) to BLS occupation-industry employment distributions. See the full employer rankings for AI displacement risk grades.
Employers with High AI Exposure in This Occupation Group
Public companies whose industry occupation mix includes a significant share of Set and exhibit designers roles.
| Company | AI Grade | Risk Score |
|---|---|---|
| NETFLIX INC | B | 42.4% |
| Walt Disney Co | B | 42.4% |
| Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. | B | 42.4% |
| TKO Group Holdings, Inc. | C | 42.4% |
| Warner Music Group Corp. | C | 42.4% |
| DraftKings Inc. | C | 42.4% |
| Liberty Live Holdings, Inc. | C | 42.4% |
| Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. | C | 42.4% |
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).