What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

“Not asking enough questions.”

What does a Set Decorator do?

A Set Decorator realizes the vision of the Director, Production Designer, and Art Director by decorating all background needs for a scene such as the walls, floors, and furniture.

What is the difference between a Set Decorator and Set Dresser?

The Set Decorator oversees their staff of Set Dressers and assigns to each of them the sets that they will need to decorate for the needs of the film.

How much does a Movie Set Decorator make?

According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for a Set Decorator is just under $45,000. Set Decorators can achieve union status, though, which can result in a higher rate for the films they work on. Other factors such as their overall experience and the number of gigs they are hired for in a given year can affect their annual salary as well.

Set Decorator

Expert Sources: Gigi Barbes

Last updated: Feb 15, 2023

Career Overview

Set Decorators are in charge of populating sets with character and world-specific items on television series, feature films, commercials or short projects. Their remit is vast and includes light fixtures, furniture, floor coverings, personal items and even dust bunnies.

Alternate Titles

Set Decoration

Avg. Salary

$104,000¹

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