How much does a special effects artist and animator make in San Diego?
Median yearly pay for special effects artist and animators in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $57.09 an hour or $9,896 a month.
- Hourly
- $57.09
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 6 of 41
- Jobs in the area
- 100
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,010 | $37.50 | |
| 25th | $85,210 | $40.97 | |
| Median | $118,800 | $57.09 | |
| 75th | $146,200 | $70.27 | |
| 90th | $162,600 | $78.16 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special effects artist and animators.
| San Jose, CA | $157,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,900 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $126,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $123,200 |
| Musician and Singer | $106,400 |
| Technical Writer | $101,800 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $99,650 |
| Producer and Director | $99,520 |
| Media and Communication Worker | $85,180 |
| Film and Video Editor | $83,480 |
| Writer and Author | $82,590 |
| Fashion Designer | $82,010 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artist and animator make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $57.09 ($118,800 a year).
Do special effects artist and animators make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $118,800 against $102,000 nationally, 16% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $130,500, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for special effects artist and animator pay?
6 of 41 metro areas with data.
How much does a special effects artist and animator make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $78,010 or less a year; the top 10% make $162,600 or more.
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.