How much does a special effects artist and animator make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $49.05 an hour or $8,503 a month.
- Hourly
- $49.05
- Average (mean)
- $112,900
- Jobs
- 19,970
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,600 | $28.17 | |
| 25th | $75,490 | $36.29 | |
| Median | $102,000 | $49.05 | |
| 75th | $139,100 | $66.89 | |
| 90th | $177,100 | $85.15 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Washington | $133,500 |
| California | $130,500 |
| Nevada | $97,350 |
| New York | $96,770 |
| Colorado | $91,290 |
| Arizona | $89,650 |
| North Carolina | $88,350 |
| Utah | $88,210 |
| Michigan | $86,630 |
| Florida | $85,870 |
| Maryland | $85,830 |
| Tennessee | $83,080 |
| Virginia | $81,510 |
| Georgia | $81,390 |
| Illinois | $81,180 |
| Massachusetts | $80,640 |
| Rhode Island | $80,040 |
| Texas | $78,930 |
| Indiana | $75,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,760 |
| Ohio | $67,000 |
| Oklahoma | $66,980 |
| Missouri | $65,470 |
| Minnesota | $64,990 |
| Wisconsin | $64,890 |
| Kansas | $62,720 |
| West Virginia | $60,940 |
| New Mexico | $54,000 |
| Kentucky | $50,970 |
| Nebraska | $50,830 |
| Iowa | $47,530 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $157,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $134,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $118,800 |
| Durham, NC | $109,300 |
| Reno, NV | $105,200 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $101,700 |
| New York, NY | $96,760 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $96,670 |
| Riverside, CA | $95,420 |
| Washington, DC | $92,760 |
| Charlotte, NC | $92,340 |
| Denver, CO | $91,290 |
In other countries
Special Effects Artist and Animator belongs to the international group "Graphic and multimedia designers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Art Director$114,900
- Craft Artist$46,080
- Fine Artist$55,490
- Artist and Related Worker$71,240
- Commercial and Industrial Designer$83,910
- Fashion Designer$80,960
- Floral Designer$37,360
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Merchandise Displayer and Window Trimmer$39,390
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artist and animator make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $49.05 ($102,000 a year).
How much does a special effects artist and animator make a month?
About $8,503 a month before tax, based on a median of $102,000 a year.
How much does a special effects artist and animator make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,600 or less a year ($28.17 an hour); the top 10% make $177,100 or more.
Which state pays special effects artist and animators the most?
Washington, with a median of $133,500 a year, followed by California ($130,500) and Nevada ($97,350).
Which city pays special effects artist and animators the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $157,000 a year.
How many special effects artist and animators are there in the United States?
About 19,970 people work as special effects artist and animators.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.