How much does a prop master make

Prop and set designers bring scripts to life through visualizing and producing unforgettable background scenes. They're also in charge of actors' property – known as props – like Dorothy’s ruby slippers in the ​The Wizard of Oz​. Exciting, high paying jobs can be found in the film and television industry, theater companies, college theaters and museums, including the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, where the iconic ruby slippers have found a home.

Most prop and set designers work in bustling entertainment hubs like Los Angeles, New York City and Atlanta. Salary varies by location, employer and skill, but overall, set design salary averaged ​$64,610​ per year, or ​$31.06​ per hour, as of May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Six-figure incomes were reported by those who make it to the top of their profession.

Prop and Set Designer Job Description

A prop and set director is a vital part of a production team that comes up with backdrops, special effects, scenery, lighting and props specific to the storyline, time period and location. Artistic skills are essential in creating scenes and special effects that captivate the audience. Technical skills are needed to make props and scenery for a stage production using everything from plywood to foam rubber. When working on a movie, set directors read blueprints and use computer-aided design programs along with video editing software to draw sketches and build models. They may consult with scholars to ensure that props, furniture and architectural renderings are true to the era being depicted.

Prop and Set Designer Education Requirements

The job of a prop and set designer requires artistic talent, creativity and highly advanced technical skills that are typically learned in college and on the job. According to ONET Online, approximately 39 percent of set directors have a bachelor’s degree, 26 percent hold a master’s, and 13 percent earned another type of professional degree related to their line of work. The San Diego State University School of Theater, Television and Film, for example, gives students the option of pursuing a bachelor’s degree in production, or design and technology, as well as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in production or design and technology.

Set Design Salary

As of May 2020, the median annual salary of set and exhibit designers was ​$58,180​, or ​$27.97​ per hour, according to BLS. In other words, 50 percent earned more than the median salary and half earned less. Salaries were highest in the movie and video industry averaging ​$75,850​ per year, or ​$36.47​ per hour, followed by theater companies paying ​$56,500​ per year, or ​$27.17​ per hour. Set director jobs were most plentiful in California, New York and Georgia paying an average set decorator salary of ​$71,780​, ​$84,730​ and ​$49,620​, respectively.

Prop and Set Designer Industry

Stress is an occupational hazard for a prop and set designer. Tensions run high when completion deadlines are fast approaching or the production crew locks horns over artistic vision. Less glamorous aspects of the job include monitoring a production budget, justifying cost overruns and keeping track of countless props. Attention to detail is imperative when editing to ensure an actor's lost plastic water bottle doesn't appear in a medieval manor, for instance.

Years of Experience

Experienced set directors bring an array of skills and technical expertise that employers covet. A combination of education and experience offers a competitive edge in landing interesting jobs that provide a creative outlet and attractive wages. The BLS indicates that the top 25 percent of skilled set designers annually earned around ​$82,780​, and the top 10 percent earned upwards of ​$106,230​ per year, as of May 2020.

Prop and Set Designer Growth Trend

Job demand for set designers is projected to remain steady or increase up to 2 percent through 2029, as reported by ONET. Those who are trained in computer-generated imagery (CGI) have a strong competitive edge over traditional prop makers, according to Backstage. Theater productions will continue to hire prop makers and scenery builders, but the movie industry has become high-tech.

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Prop Makers in America make an average salary of $54,499 per year or $26 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $83,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $35,000 per year.

Average Prop Maker Salary

$54,499 Yearly

$26.20 hourly

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Updated September 9, 2022

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