Production Designer
Impact: Creative and Visual
Designs the visual concept for film, television, or theatre productions by establishing styles for sets, locations, graphics, props, lighting, and costumes, collaborating closely with the director and producer to realize the creative vision.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Team-oriented
- Client facing
- Frequent
- Impact visibility
- Very High
- Travel
- Moderate
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 50
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $75,000
- Entry-level
- $45,000
- Senior
- $120,000
- Growth by 2033
- 5%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- High
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $30,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Set Design
- Budget Management
- Software Proficiency
Soft skills
- Creativity
- Communication
- Problem-solving
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 5
- Years to senior
- 12
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Assistant Art Director
- Art Director
- Production Designer
- Supervising Art Director
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- High