Outpaid

Special Effects Artists and Animators salary

The BLS estimates 19,970 Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $102,030 (May 2025, SOC 27-1014). Across 10 metros with published figures, medians range from $76,110 in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA to $156,950 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA.

SPECIAL EFFECTS ARTISTS AND ANIMATORS · UNITED STATES · BLS
BLS · UNITED STATES · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$58,600P25$75,490MEDIAN$102,030P75$139,130P90$177,110
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

Were you outpaid?

Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.

Compare my Special Effects Artists and Animators pay →

HIGHEST-PAYING METROS

  1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$156,950 · 510 jobs
  2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$136,770 · 1,440 jobs
  3. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$134,120 · 1,030 jobs
  4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$124,590 · 4,650 jobs
  5. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$96,760 · 1,560 jobs
  6. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$92,760 · 290 jobs
  7. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$91,150 · 960 jobs
  8. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$87,300 · 260 jobs
  9. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$83,200 · 550 jobs
  10. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$76,110 · 290 jobs

LARGEST METROS

  1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$124,590 · 4,650 jobs
  2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$96,760 · 1,560 jobs
  3. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$136,770 · 1,440 jobs
  4. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$134,120 · 1,030 jobs
  5. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$91,150 · 960 jobs
  6. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$83,200 · 550 jobs
  7. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$156,950 · 510 jobs
  8. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$76,110 · 290 jobs
  9. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$92,760 · 290 jobs
  10. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$87,300 · 260 jobs

EMPLOYERS WITH THE MOST VISA-SPONSORED FILINGS FOR THIS JOB

ALL METROS (A–Z)

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA · Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Questions

What is the median Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in the U.S.?

$102,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $75,490–$139,130.

Where do Special Effects Artists and Animators earn the most?

Highest metro medians: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($156,950), San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($136,770), Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,120). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.