How much does a special effects artist and animator make in San Jose?
Median yearly pay for special effects artist and animators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $75.46 an hour or $13,080 a month.
- Hourly
- $75.46
- Vs. national median
- +54%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 41
- Jobs in the area
- 510
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,280 | $47.73 | |
| 25th | $121,000 | $58.15 | |
| Median | $157,000 | $75.46 | |
| 75th | $188,400 | $90.58 | |
| 90th | $215,700 | $103.69 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for special effects artist and animators.
| San Francisco, CA | $136,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,600 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $118,800 |
Related jobs in San Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Art Director | $170,100 |
| Court Reporter and Simultaneous Captioner | $143,200 |
| Commercial and Industrial Designer | $141,300 |
| Technical Writer | $140,700 |
| Designer | $129,100 |
| Writer and Author | $118,800 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $117,600 |
| Editor | $117,600 |
| Musician and Singer | $102,900 |
| Interpreter and Translator | $101,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a special effects artist and animator make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $75.46 ($157,000 a year).
Do special effects artist and animators make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $157,000 against $102,000 nationally, 54% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $130,500, so San Jose pays 20% more.
Where does San Jose rank for special effects artist and animator pay?
1 of 41 metro areas with data.
How much does a special effects artist and animator make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $99,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $215,700 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.