by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Theater Design & Technology covers Technical Theatre/theatre Design And Technology. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Artistic, Technical And Dramatic Principles And Techniques To The Communication Of Dramatic Information, Ideas, Moods, And Feelings Through Technical Theatre Methods. Includes Instruction In Set Design, Lighting Design, Sound Effects, Theatre Acoustics, Scene Painting, Property Management, Costume Design, And Technical Direction And Production And Use Of Computer Applications To Support These Functions. Examples: [Scene Painting]. Continue reading for the key facts every theater design & technology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering theater design & technology programs.
Across the country, theater design & technology draws strong interest, with 1,087 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Theater Design & Technology Schools ranking analyzes these 160 schools to determine the best overall colleges for theater design & technology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of theater design & technology programs later in this article.
Programs in Theater Design & Technology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations theater design & technology graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a theater design & technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a theater design & technology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several theater design & technology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 118 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 605 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 344 |
People currently working in careers related to theater design & technology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 47.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 26.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.6% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in theater design & technology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in theater design & technology can lead to numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to theater design & technology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to theater design & technology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,074,154 | 9.1% |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | 253,386 | -2.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of theater design & technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $21,253 |
| 4 years | $29,200 |
| 5 years | $33,047 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for theater design & technology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers theater design & technology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $109,049 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,983 |
With 160 different theater design & technology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased theater design & technology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in theater design & technology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General | 10,778 |
| Acting | 1,859 |
| Musical Theatre | 1,157 |
| Playwriting and Screenwriting | 863 |
| Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other | 437 |
| Directing and Theatrical Production | 213 |
| Theatre and Dance | 122 |
| Costume Design | 64 |
| Comedy Writing and Performance | 35 |
| Theatre Literature, History and Criticism | 25 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
