Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in the U.S.
Special Effects Artists and Animators in the U.S. earn a median of $102,030 a year ($49.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 19,970 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,110 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $112,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for special effects artists and animators in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| 25th percentile | $75,490 | $36.29 |
| Median | $102,030 | $49.06 |
| 75th percentile | $139,130 | $66.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $177,110 | $85.15 |
| Average (mean) | $112,870 | $54.27 |
Half of special effects artists and animators earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,502.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,251.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,924.23 |
| Weekly | $1,962.12 |
| Hourly | $49.06 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $133,480 | 1,130 |
| California | $130,540 | 7,410 |
| Nevada | $97,350 | 370 |
| New York | $96,770 | 1,540 |
| Colorado | $91,290 | 210 |
| Arizona | $89,650 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $88,350 | 370 |
| Utah | $88,210 | 320 |
| Michigan | $86,630 | 230 |
| Florida | $85,870 | 1,530 |
| Maryland | $85,830 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $83,080 | 90 |
| Virginia | $81,510 | 380 |
| Georgia | $81,390 | 350 |
| Illinois | $81,180 | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $80,640 | n/a |
| Rhode Island | $80,040 | n/a |
| Texas | $78,930 | n/a |
| Indiana | $75,250 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,760 | 300 |
| Ohio | $67,000 | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $66,980 | n/a |
| Missouri | $65,470 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $64,990 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $64,890 | 210 |
| Kansas | $62,720 | n/a |
| West Virginia | $60,940 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $54,000 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $50,970 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $50,830 | 90 |
| Iowa | $47,530 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for special effects artists and animators
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,950 | 510 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 | 1,440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,120 | 1,030 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,590 | 4,650 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,880 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,750 | 100 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $109,320 | n/a |
| Reno, NV | $105,240 | 90 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $101,730 | 170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,760 | 1,560 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $96,670 | 150 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $95,420 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $92,760 | 290 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,340 | n/a |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $91,290 | 140 |
Metro areas with the most special effects artists and animators
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,650 | $124,590 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,560 | $96,760 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,440 | $136,770 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,030 | $134,120 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 960 | $91,150 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 550 | $83,200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 510 | $156,950 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 290 | $76,110 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 290 | $92,760 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 260 | $87,300 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 180 | $74,520 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 170 | $101,730 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 150 | $96,670 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 140 | $91,290 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 100 | $76,770 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | $30.27 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $39,390 | $18.94 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 | $32.31 |
| Art Director | $114,850 | $55.22 |
| Floral Designer | $37,360 | $17.96 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designers | $83,910 | $40.34 |
| Fashion Designer | $80,960 | $38.92 |
| Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators | $55,490 | $26.68 |
| Set and Exhibit Designers | $75,240 | $36.17 |
| Designers, All Other | $64,950 | $31.23 |
| Artists and Related Workers, All Other | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Craft Artist | $46,080 | $22.15 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 | $35.94 |
| Coaches and Scouts | $47,320 | — |
More: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 27-1014. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artists and animators make in the U.S.?
The median salary for special effects artists and animators in the U.S. is $102,030 a year, or $49.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,600 for the lowest-paid 10% to $177,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid special effects artists and animators make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of special effects artists and animators in the U.S. earn at least $177,110 a year. The top 25% earn $139,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for special effects artists and animators in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,600 a year, and a quarter of special effects artists and animators earn $75,490 or less.
How many special effects artists and animators work in the U.S.?
About 19,970 special effects artists and animators are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.