Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median special effects artists and animators salary in the United States is $102,030 per year ($49.06/hour). Salaries range from $58,600 at the entry level to $177,110+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 19,970 special effects artists and animators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.6% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$102,030
per year
Hourly Rate
$49.06
per hour
Employment
19,970
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$58,600
25th percentile
$75,490
Median
$102,030
75th percentile
$139,130
90th percentile
$177,110
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+1.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
5,000
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$48K$133K■ No data
Top Paying States
Washington
$133K
+31%
California
$131K
+28%
Nevada
$97K
-5%
New York
$97K
-5%
Colorado
$91K
-11%
Arizona
$90K
-12%
North Carolina
$88K
-13%
Utah
$88K
-14%
Michigan
$87K
-15%
Florida
$86K
-16%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $133,480 | +30.8% |
| California | $130,540 | +27.9% |
| Nevada | $97,350 | -4.6% |
| New York | $96,770 | -5.2% |
| Colorado | $91,290 | -10.5% |
| Arizona | $89,650 | -12.1% |
| North Carolina | $88,350 | -13.4% |
| Utah | $88,210 | -13.5% |
| Michigan | $86,630 | -15.1% |
| Florida | $85,870 | -15.8% |
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Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,950 | +53.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 | +34.0% |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,120 | +31.5% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,590 | +22.1% |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,880 | +20.4% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,750 | +16.4% |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $109,320 | +7.1% |
| Reno, NV | $105,240 | +3.1% |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $101,730 | -0.3% |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,760 | -5.2% |
Showing 1–10 of 41
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A special effects artists and animators earning $102,030/year would need 584 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 627 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how special effects artists and animators salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Special Effects Artists and Animators salary trend (2011–2024) →