Special Effects Artist and Animator Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Special Effects Artists and Animators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $124,590 a year — 22% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $87,446 take-home, or $7,287 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median special effects artist and animator salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,636
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,725
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,807
- California income tax$7,357
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,620
- Take-home pay$87,446
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Special Effects Artist and Animator pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,740 | $31.13 | $51,390 | $4,282 |
| 25th percentile | $93,230 | $44.82 | $68,765 | $5,730 |
| Median (50th) | $124,590 | $59.90 | $87,446 | $7,287 |
| 75th percentile | $162,690 | $78.22 | $109,449 | $9,121 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,900 | $99.47 | $136,307 | $11,359 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $124,590 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median special effects artist and animator's $87,446 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,000 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Los Angeles, CA has 5.8× the national concentration of special effects artist and animator jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for special effects artists and animators, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 1 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $124,590 | $87,446 | $77,000 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 1 metros →
About the job: special effects artists and animators
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.3% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artist and animator make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median special effects artist and animator salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $124,590 a year, or about $59.90 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,230 and $162,690.
What is a special effects artist and animator’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $124,590 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $87,446 a year ($7,287 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,977 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a special effects artist and animator?
Pay here is 22% above the national median of $102,030. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,000 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #1 of 1 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a special effects artist and animator afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 31% of a median special effects artist and animator’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Art Director — $137,560
- Producer and Director — $131,600
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film — $107,620
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other — $103,050
- Editor — $100,050
- Film and Video Editor — $83,210
- Interior Designer — $80,000
- Public Relations Specialist — $79,860
- Sound Engineering Technician — $77,850
- Graphic Designer — $72,400
- Audio and Video Technician — $64,900
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer — $48,900