Special Effects Artists and Animators salary
in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
- Middle 50%
- $93,230–$162,690
- vs U.S. median
- +22%
- Metro rank
- #4 of 10
Special Effects Artists and Animators in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro earn a median of $124,590 a year, based on BLS estimates for 4,650 jobs (May 2025). That is 22% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 5% below the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #4 of 10 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE4,650 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in Los Angeles
3 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Snap | $163,327 | 9 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | $120,072 | 12 |
| Activision Publishing | $115,482 | 6 |
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in other CA metros
2 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,950 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 |
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Questions
What is the average Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $124,590 a year (May 2025). Half of the 4,650 jobs pay between $93,230 and $162,690. The 10th percentile is $64,740 and the 90th is $206,900.
Is Los Angeles a high-paying metro for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
That is 22% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 5% below the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #4 of 10 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Special Effects Artists and Animators make an hour in Los Angeles?
About $59.90 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $124,590 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $44.82–$78.22 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Special Effects Artists and Animators the most in Los Angeles?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Snap ($163,327), Blizzard Entertainment ($120,072), Activision Publishing ($115,482). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.