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Stage Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Northern Impact

Designer

San Diego, CA · On-site

Voted as one of the "Best Places to Work" for healthcare, designers and architects at this firm ... at every stage. * Prepare precise and fully coordinated construction documents, ensuring ...

Middesk

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$140 - $190/hr

... every stage of the customer lifecycle. Middesk came out of Y Combinator, is backed by Sequoia ... As a Product Designer at Middesk, you\'ll play a pivotal role in helping businesses uphold strong ...

Hybrid Promotions LLC

Designer

Cypress, CA · On-site

$33.65 - $35/hr

Review product at preproduction stage to ensure all components are correct prior to production What ... of experience designing apparel * Portfolio Required * Proficient in Adobe Photoshop and ...

Macroscope

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $300K/yr

Who You Are * 2+ years of design experience, ideally at early-stage startups or on small teams ... Experienced designing for technical audiences; developer tools experience is even better. * Fast ...

Macroscope Inc.

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150 - $300/hr

Who You Are * 2+ years of design experience, ideally at early-stage startups or on small teams ... Experienced designing for technical audiences; developer tools experience is even better. * Fast ...

Barton + Barton Interiors

Interior Designer

Del Mar, CA · On-site

You'll work alongside our senior designers and project leads, helping bring projects from concept through construction -- not running jobs solo, but playing a key hands-on role at every stage. This ...

Clera

Founding Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

About the Role This is the founding design seat at an early-stage agentic integration platform ... Background designing developer tools, infrastructure platforms, or complex technical UX (e.g ...

PTR Global

Keynote Designer IV

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$60 - $65/hr

Position: Keynote.Designer IV Location: Cupertino, California (Hybrid) Duration: 06+ months ... stage performances. Responsibilities: * Assist with layout, design, and narrative support in ...

Clera

Founding Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $250K/yr

About the Role This is the founding design seat at an early-stage agentic integration platform ... Background designing developer tools, infrastructure platforms, or complex technical UX (e.g ...

Formal

Founding Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

About Formal Formal is data security platform designed to help teams understand and control their ... Experience working in or with early-stage startups in the security or data management space

Casa, Inc

Senior Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

... stage startup. This means that there's a lot of systems and structure yet to be put in place, and you'll play an active role in building and shaping those alongside our company culture * You thrive ...

Ivo

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $200K/yr

The Opportunity We are looking for an exceptional designer to join our team in San Francisco ... This is a unique opportunity to join us at an early stage and play a crucial role in shaping Ivo ...

Middesk

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$200K - $225K/yr

... every stage. We follow a hybrid work model, and for this role, there is an expectation of 2 days ... designs that strike the right balance between customer needs, business goals, and technical ...

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All JobsStage Designer JobsStage Designer Jobs in California

Stage Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do stage designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for stage designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a stage designer do?

A stage designer, also known as a set designer, is responsible for creating the visual environment of a theater production, concert, or event. They design sets, props, and sometimes lighting to help bring the director’s vision to life and enhance the storytelling. Stage designers collaborate closely with directors, costume designers, and lighting designers to ensure all visual elements work together. Their work includes sketching ideas, building models, selecting materials, and overseeing the construction and installation of sets.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a stage designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Stage Designer, you need a solid background in set design, spatial awareness, visual arts, and often a degree in theater design or a related field. Familiarity with design software like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as knowledge of stagecraft and lighting systems, is typically required. Creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and strong communication skills set outstanding stage designers apart. These skills ensure effective realization of artistic visions, smooth coordination with production teams, and the creation of impactful stage environments.

What are some common challenges stage designers face when working on live productions?

Stage Designers often encounter challenges such as balancing creative vision with budgetary or technical constraints, adapting designs to different venues, and collaborating with directors and other departments like lighting, sound, and costumes. Meeting tight deadlines and making real-time adjustments during rehearsals are also common aspects of the role. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are crucial to navigate these challenges and deliver visually compelling and practical stage environments.

What is the difference between Stage Designer vs Set Designer?

AspectStage DesignerSet Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in theater, design, or related fieldOften requires a degree in theater, architecture, or interior design
Work EnvironmentWorks primarily on live theater, concerts, and performancesWorks on film, television, and theatrical productions
Industry UsageCommonly used in theater and live performance industriesCommonly used in film, TV, and stage productions

While both Stage Designer and Set Designer create visual environments, the Stage Designer focuses on designing the overall stage layout for live performances, ensuring functionality and aesthetic appeal. The Set Designer, on the other hand, primarily designs the physical scenery and backgrounds for theater, film, or TV productions. Their roles often overlap, but their specific focus and work environments differ.

How do you become a stage designer?

To become a stage designer, individuals typically pursue a bachelor's degree in theater design, set design, or a related field. Gaining experience through internships, building a portfolio, and developing skills in drafting, painting, and computer-aided design (CAD) are essential steps in establishing a career in stage design.

What are popular job titles related to Stage Designer jobs in California?

For Stage Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Stage Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Stage Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Stage Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Stage Designer job openings:

Stage Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Stage Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Freelance Product Designer (Fractional)

Clera

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

About the Role
This is a fractional Product Designer role embedded directly with the founding team of an early-stage AI-powered talent marketplace, working across the full product surface - from candidate-facing AI conversations to hiring manager dashboards. You'll be the design voice in the room, shipping real product quickly without layers or design-by-committee. The work directly shapes how people discover and land new career opportunities.
What You'll Do
  • Own the entire design surface: product UI, candidate-facing experiences, company dashboards, and the AI interaction layer.
  • Turn ambiguous, early-stage problems into clean, intuitive flows while maintaining a high level of craft.
  • Build and evolve the company's design system from the ground up.
  • Run lightweight user research - candidate and company interviews, session observation, and friction identification.
  • Produce developer-ready handoffs including specs, redlines, and asset exports, collaborating closely with engineering on implementation fidelity.
  • Shape product direction alongside the founding team, contributing beyond pixels to strategy and priorities.
  • Manage fractional engagement logistics: communicate weekly availability, track capacity, and handle billing expectations clearly.
What We're Looking For
  • 5+ years designing digital products, with meaningful time at a startup as the primary or sole designer.
  • Deep fluency in Figma for both product design and design system work.
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating taste, clarity, and shipped work - not just aesthetics, but solved user problems.
  • Experience designing end-to-end flows for multi-stakeholder products (e.g. candidates, companies, internal teams).
  • Experience building design systems from scratch or at an early stage.
  • Comfort conducting user research and translating findings into product improvements.
  • Proven ability to work autonomously, async, and in distributed teams with minimal direction.
  • Prior fractional or contract design experience with concurrent client management.
  • Familiarity with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design is a plus.
  • Experience with AI-powered products, conversational interfaces, or marketplace/multi-sided platform design is a strong plus.
  • Background in HR tech, recruiting, or talent marketplace products is a plus.
Compensation & Benefits
Compensation range: $100,000 - $120,000 USD annually. Flexible fractional engagement with fully remote work. Visa sponsorship is not available.
Location
Fully remote - open to candidates worldwide.

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