BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Special Effects Artists and Animators in New York

$110,760 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$53.25 per hour

▼ 1.9% below U.S. average3rd of 31 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$110,760per year
Median$96,770per year
Hourly$53.25per hour
10th – 90th percentile$60,190 – $176,190per year

Special Effects Artists and Animators Pay Range in New York

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,190
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$76,420
  • 50th Percentile — Median$96,770
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$136,840
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$176,190

Half of Special Effects Artists and Animators in New York earn more than $96,770. The top 10% make $176,190 or more, while entry-level workers start around $60,190.

Special Effects Artists and Animators in New York: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • New York ranks 3rd of 31 states for Special Effects Artists and Animators pay, at $110,760 per year (1.9% below the U.S. average of $112,870).
  • 1,540 people work as Special Effects Artists and Animators in New York — 7.7% of all U.S. Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.24: Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs are more concentrated in New York than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $60,190; the top 10% earn over $176,190.
  • Hourly equivalent: $53.25 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Washington at $141,450.
  • Among creative jobs in New York, News Analysts Reporters and Journalists pays the most ($251,110).

Special Effects Artists and Animators Job Market in New York

Key factors affecting compensation

New York's key industries are Finance, Technology, Media, and its job market is rated very strong. Special Effects Artists and Animators here earn $110,760 on average, placing the state 3rd nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.38 (U.S. = 1.00), a New York salary of $110,760 is roughly equivalent to $80,261 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Washington ($141,450), California ($134,360), Michigan ($103,090) are the closest alternatives for Special Effects Artists and Animators weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in New York?

The average Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in New York is $110,760 per year (median $96,770), which is 1.9% below the national average of $112,870.

How does New York rank for Special Effects Artists and Animators pay?

New York ranks 3rd out of 31 states. The highest-paying state is Washington ($141,450/yr).

How much do entry-level Special Effects Artists and Animators make in New York?

The lowest-paid 10% of Special Effects Artists and Animators in New York earn about $60,190 per year and the 25th percentile is $76,420.

How much do Special Effects Artists and Animators make per hour in New York?

About $53.25 per hour, based on the $110,760 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Special Effects Artists and Animators work in New York?

BLS counts 1,540 Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs in New York (OEWS May 2025).

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