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Exhibit Designer - Museum Salary in the United States

How much does an Exhibit Designer - Museum make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Exhibit Designer - Museum in the United States is $67,765 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, an Exhibit Designer - Museum's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,698
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,554 to $78,722
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,347
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Exhibit Designer - Museum Salaries

An Exhibit Designer - Museum's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Exhibit Designer - Museum Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Exhibit Designer - Museum's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $64,084
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $64,920
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $68,583
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $71,853
  • Expert (over 8 years): $72,671
Levels Salary
Entry Level Exhibit Designer - Museum$64,084
Intermediate Level Exhibit Designer - Museum$64,920
Senior Level Exhibit Designer - Museum$68,583
Specialist Level Exhibit Designer - Museum$71,853
Expert Level Exhibit Designer - Museum$72,671
View as Graph

How Do Exhibit Designer - Museums Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Exhibit Designer - Museums. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,029.
  • California: $74,745.
  • Massachusetts: $73,749.

Top Paying Cities for Exhibit Designer - Museum

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $85,472
  • San Francisco: $84,536
  • Oakland: $82,755

What Skills Can Increase an Exhibit Designer - Museum's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.32% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • CAD (Mentioned in 2.66% Job Postings): Computer-aided design is the use of computers to aid in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimization of a design. This software is used to increase the productivity of the designer
  • CNC (Mentioned in 1.33% Job Postings): Numerical control is the automated control of machining tools by means of a computer. A CNC machine processes a piece of material to meet specifications by following coded programmed instructions
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.32%
CAD 2.66%
CNC 1.33%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Exhibit Designer - Museum's salary.

  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Computer Aided Design: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Troubleshooting: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Development $84,706
25%
Computer Aided Design $78,607
16%
Troubleshooting $74,542
10%
Get Latest Data

Exhibit Designer - Museum Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Exhibit Designer - Museum salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $69,933. While startup companies pay approximate $59,756.

Exhibit Designer - Museum Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $59,756
Growth Stage 51~500 $63,047
Established 501~5000 $67,700
Enterprise 5000+ $69,933

Exhibit Designer - Museum Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Exhibit Designer - Museum roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 15% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Edu., Gov't., offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Exhibit Designer - Museum positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Exhibit Designer - Museum as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for an Exhibit Designer - Museum

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Edu., Gov't.$74,542$36.010%

How Education impacts an Exhibit Designer - Museum's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Exhibit Designer - Museum enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Exhibit Designer - Museum with a Bachelor's Degree is between $75,225 and $80,456.

Exhibit Designer - Museum Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Exhibit Designer - Museum
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 3.1%
Associates 2.5%
Bachelors 48.4%
Masters 40.9%
Doctorate 4.4%
View as Graph

Exhibit Designer - Museum Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Exhibit Designer - Museum's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$56,554
Average $67,765/year
$78,722
$4,713
Average $5,647/month
$6,560
$1,088
Average $1,303/week
$1,514
$27
Average $33/hour
$38
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $78,722 $6,560 $1,514 $38
Average $67,765 $5,647 $1,303 $33
25th Percentile $56,554 $4,713 $1,088 $27

Most common benefits for Exhibit Designer - Museum

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Exhibit Designer - Museum

Here are companies hiring for Exhibit Designer - Museum and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Exhibit Designer - Museum

1. Where can an Exhibit Designer - Museum earn the most?

An Exhibit Designer - Museum's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Exhibit Designer - Museum earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Exhibit Designer - Museum is $85,472.

2. What is the highest pay for Exhibit Designer - Museum?

The highest pay for Exhibit Designer - Museum is $88,698.

3. What is the lowest pay for Exhibit Designer - Museum?

The lowest pay for Exhibit Designer - Museum is $46,347.

4. What are the responsibilities of Exhibit Designer - Museum?

Designs and constructs museum collections, exhibits, and special projects. Researches ideas and materials for an exhibit, recommends solutions for design problems, and utilizes design techniques to produce desired visual effect and educational message. May require a master's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Occasionally directed in several aspects of the work. Gaining exposure to some of the complex tasks within the job function. Typically requires 2-4 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Exhibit Designer - Museum?

The Edu., Gov't. industry offers the highest average compensation for Exhibit Designer - Museum roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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