Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$58,600
- 25th Percentile — Junior$75,490
- 50th Percentile — Median$102,030
- 75th Percentile — Senior$139,130
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$177,110
The top 10% of Special Effects Artists and Animators earn $177,110 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $58,600, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $174,948 | +55.0% |
| District of Columbia (est.) | $171,562 | +52.0% |
| Alaska (est.) | $148,988 | +32.0% |
| New Jersey (est.) | $144,474 | +28.0% |
| Washington | $141,450 | +25.3% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $137,701 | +22.0% |
| California | $134,360 | +19.0% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $128,672 | +14.0% |
| Oregon (est.) | $126,414 | +12.0% |
| Vermont (est.) | $121,900 | +8.0% |
| Delaware (est.) | $118,514 | +5.0% |
| Maine (est.) | $115,127 | +2.0% |
| New York | $110,760 | -1.9% |
| Montana (est.) | $107,226 | -5.0% |
| Idaho (est.) | $104,969 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $104,969 | -7.0% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $103,840 | -8.0% |
| Michigan | $103,090 | -8.7% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $99,326 | -12.0% |
| South Carolina (est.) | $99,326 | -12.0% |
| Alabama (est.) | $98,197 | -13.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $98,197 | -13.0% |
| Nevada | $97,610 | -13.5% |
| Texas | $94,660 | -16.1% |
| Florida | $93,850 | -16.9% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $93,682 | -17.0% |
| Colorado | $93,080 | -17.5% |
| Illinois | $92,680 | -17.9% |
| Ohio | $92,130 | -18.4% |
| Tennessee | $91,320 | -19.1% |
| Utah | $91,180 | -19.2% |
| Mississippi (est.) | $90,296 | -20.0% |
| Virginia | $89,750 | -20.5% |
| North Carolina | $86,020 | -23.8% |
| Arizona | $84,890 | -24.8% |
| Massachusetts | $84,280 | -25.3% |
| Maryland | $83,310 | -26.2% |
| Wisconsin | $81,240 | -28.0% |
| Georgia | $77,830 | -31.0% |
| Pennsylvania | $74,780 | -33.7% |
| Missouri | $74,600 | -33.9% |
| Rhode Island | $74,170 | -34.3% |
| Indiana | $73,530 | -34.9% |
| Kansas | $70,870 | -37.2% |
| Minnesota | $68,440 | -39.4% |
| Oklahoma | $66,380 | -41.2% |
| New Mexico | $61,400 | -45.6% |
| Kentucky | $61,110 | -45.9% |
| Iowa | $59,740 | -47.1% |
| West Virginia | $59,180 | -47.6% |
| Nebraska | $56,270 | -50.1% |
What Factors Affect Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Special Effects Artists and Animators is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Washington pays an average of $141,450, while Nebraska pays $56,270 — a gap of $85,180 per year.
The middle half of Special Effects Artists and Animators earn between $75,490 and $139,130 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,600, while the top 10% earn more than $177,110.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Graphic Designers $70,560/yr United States 37.5% vs this role
- Art Directors $129,440/yr United States +14.7% vs this role
- Interior Designers $74,540/yr United States 34.0% vs this role
- Fashion Designers $91,230/yr United States 19.2% vs this role
- Producers and Directors $113,300/yr United States +0.4% vs this role
- Writers and Authors $86,090/yr United States 23.7% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 10.1% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +21.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
The average salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators in the United States is $112,870 per year, with a median of $102,030.
What is the starting salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
Entry-level Special Effects Artists and Animators typically earn between $58,600 and $75,490 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Special Effects Artists and Animators the most?
Washington pays Special Effects Artists and Animators the most at $141,450 per year on average, followed by California ($134,360) and New York ($110,760).
How much do Special Effects Artists and Animators make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $112,870, Special Effects Artists and Animators earn approximately $54.26 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Special Effects Artists and Animators a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 19,970 Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $112,870 and a median of $102,030 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data