Special Effects Artist and Animator Salary
Special Effects Artists and Animators earn a median $102,030 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$102,030
$49.05 per hour
Range
$58,600 – $177,110
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
19,970
across the U.S.
Special Effects Artist and Animator take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$80,608
per year · effective tax rate 21.0%
$6,717Monthly
$3,359Twice a month
$3,100Every 2 weeks
$38.75Hourly
- Federal income tax$13,617
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,326
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,479
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$80,608
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,600 | $28.17 | $49,265 |
| 25th percentile | $75,490 | $36.29 | $61,937 |
| Median (50th) | $102,030 | $49.05 | $80,608 |
| 75th percentile | $139,130 | $66.89 | $106,361 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $177,110 | $85.15 | $132,321 |
Best cities for special effects artists and animators (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $156,950 | $106,134 | $96,116 | 510 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $134,120 | $102,937 | $92,625 | 1,030 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $136,770 | $94,480 | $81,721 | 1,440 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $124,590 | $87,446 | $77,000 | 4,650 |
| 5 | Orlando, FL | $91,150 | $72,954 | $71,934 | 960 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $96,760 | $72,232 | $64,170 | 1,560 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $83,200 | $63,388 | $61,188 | 550 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- San Jose, CA — $156,950
- San Francisco, CA — $136,770
- Seattle, WA — $134,120
- Los Angeles, CA — $124,590
- New York, NY — $96,760
- Orlando, FL — $91,150
- Chicago, IL — $83,200
Special Effects Artist and Animator salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $133,480 | $102,500 | $65,270 – $209,400 | 1,130 |
| California | $130,540 | $90,882 | $71,710 – $206,160 | 7,410 |
| Nevada | $97,350 | $77,316 | $72,720 – $129,470 | 370 |
| New York | $96,770 | $72,239 | $60,190 – $176,190 | 1,540 |
| Colorado | $91,290 | $69,744 | $57,350 – $124,990 | 210 |
| Arizona | $89,650 | $69,866 | $59,870 – $100,230 | 190 |
| North Carolina | $88,350 | $67,968 | $53,790 – $120,150 | 370 |
| Utah | $88,210 | $67,882 | $29,990 – $152,720 | 320 |
| Michigan | $86,630 | $66,343 | $54,260 – $194,550 | 230 |
| Florida | $85,870 | $69,240 | $71,140 – $114,920 | 1,530 |
| Maryland | $85,830 | $65,498 | $52,710 – $110,750 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $83,080 | $67,277 | $60,320 – $170,300 | 90 |
| Virginia | $81,510 | $62,300 | $47,140 – $138,210 | 380 |
| Georgia | $81,390 | $62,487 | $40,000 – $106,120 | 350 |
| Illinois | $81,180 | $62,067 | $60,760 – $136,710 | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $80,640 | $61,748 | $57,900 – $109,820 | — |
| Rhode Island | $80,040 | $62,754 | $45,810 – $99,060 | — |
| Texas | $78,930 | $64,357 | $56,020 – $150,000 | — |
| Indiana | $75,250 | $59,578 | $50,920 – $93,090 | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,760 | $57,110 | $49,680 – $103,940 | 300 |
| Ohio | $67,000 | $54,904 | $45,310 – $166,260 | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $66,980 | $53,482 | $50,820 – $77,860 | — |
| Missouri | $65,470 | $52,645 | $48,020 – $103,740 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $64,990 | $51,504 | $62,070 – $77,990 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $64,890 | $52,245 | $53,270 – $154,340 | 210 |
| Kansas | $62,720 | $49,875 | $56,470 – $102,530 | — |
| West Virginia | $60,940 | $49,139 | $50,860 – $77,740 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $54,000 | $44,197 | $52,070 – $82,180 | 80 |
| Kentucky | $50,970 | $41,468 | $44,700 – $89,930 | 40 |
| Nebraska | $50,830 | $41,589 | $43,340 – $80,520 | 90 |
| Iowa | $47,530 | $39,216 | $39,300 – $104,000 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artist and animator make?
The national median salary for special effects artists and animators is $102,030 a year ($49.05 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,600 and the top 10% earn over $177,110. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays special effects artists and animators the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $133,480. After taxes and local prices, San Jose, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many special effects artists and animators are there in the U.S.?
About 19,970 people work as special effects artists and animators nationwide.