Special Effects Artists and Animators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for special effects artists and animatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$141,450
- California$134,360
- New York$110,760
- Michigan$103,090
- Nevada$97,610
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Nebraska$56,270
- West Virginia$59,180
- Iowa$59,740
- Kentucky$61,110
- New Mexico$61,400
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $141,450 | $133,480 | $68 | +25.3% | 1,130 |
| 2 | California | $134,360 | $130,540 | $65 | +19% | 7,410 |
| 3 | New York | $110,760 | $96,770 | $53 | -1.9% | 1,540 |
| 4 | Michigan | $103,090 | $86,630 | $50 | -8.7% | 230 |
| 5 | Nevada | $97,610 | $97,350 | $47 | -13.5% | 370 |
| 6 | Texas | $94,660 | $78,930 | $46 | -16.1% | — |
| 7 | Florida | $93,850 | $85,870 | $45 | -16.9% | 1,530 |
| 8 | Colorado | $93,080 | $91,290 | $45 | -17.5% | 210 |
| 9 | Illinois | $92,680 | $81,180 | $45 | -17.9% | 630 |
| 10 | Ohio | $92,130 | $67,000 | $44 | -18.4% | 200 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $91,320 | $83,080 | $44 | -19.1% | 90 |
| 12 | Utah | $91,180 | $88,210 | $44 | -19.2% | 320 |
| 13 | Virginia | $89,750 | $81,510 | $43 | -20.5% | 380 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $86,020 | $88,350 | $41 | -23.8% | 370 |
| 15 | Arizona | $84,890 | $89,650 | $41 | -24.8% | 190 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $84,280 | $80,640 | $41 | -25.3% | — |
| 17 | Maryland | $83,310 | $85,830 | $40 | -26.2% | 170 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | $81,240 | $64,890 | $39 | -28% | 210 |
| 19 | Georgia | $77,830 | $81,390 | $37 | -31% | 350 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $74,780 | $71,760 | $36 | -33.7% | 300 |
| 21 | Missouri | $74,600 | $65,470 | $36 | -33.9% | 80 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $74,170 | $80,040 | $36 | -34.3% | — |
| 23 | Indiana | $73,530 | $75,250 | $35 | -34.9% | 300 |
| 24 | Kansas | $70,870 | $62,720 | $34 | -37.2% | — |
| 25 | Minnesota | $68,440 | $64,990 | $33 | -39.4% | 30 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $66,380 | $66,980 | $32 | -41.2% | — |
| 27 | New Mexico | $61,400 | $54,000 | $30 | -45.6% | 80 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $61,110 | $50,970 | $29 | -45.9% | 40 |
| 29 | Iowa | $59,740 | $47,530 | $29 | -47.1% | — |
| 30 | West Virginia | $59,180 | $60,940 | $28 | -47.6% | 40 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $56,270 | $50,830 | $27 | -50.1% | 90 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 48 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,950 | $161,540 | 510 |
| 2 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 | $145,960 | 1,440 |
| 3 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,120 | $143,790 | 1,030 |
| 4 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,590 | $130,260 | 4,650 |
| 5 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,880 | $120,760 | 70 |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,750 | $117,610 | 100 |
| 7 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $109,320 | $99,130 | — |
| 8 | Reno, NV | $105,240 | $106,380 | 90 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $101,730 | $100,620 | 170 |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $96,760 | $109,310 | 1,560 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing special effects artists and animatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, & Other Media Networks & Content Providers | $127,840 | $135,340 | 460 |
| 2 | Software Publishers | $127,670 | $132,190 | 3,920 |
| 3 | Publishing Industries | $126,690 | $130,040 | 4,070 |
| 4 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $121,200 | $124,170 | 80 |
| 5 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $118,750 | $122,180 | 90 |
| 6 | Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $112,640 | $116,550 | 90 |
| 7 | Temporary Help Services | $110,570 | $123,210 | 190 |
| 8 | Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $110,250 | $124,670 | 100 |
| 9 | Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services | $110,250 | $124,670 | 100 |
| 10 | Broadcasting and Content Providers | $109,060 | $128,070 | 550 |
| 11 | Employment Services | $108,820 | $114,140 | 350 |
| 12 | Administrative and Support Services | $106,480 | $110,960 | 390 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make in the U.S.?
The median special effects artists and animators salary in the United States is $102,030 per year (mean $112,870), and about 80% earn between $58,600 and $177,110.
How much do special effects artists and animators make per hour?
Roughly $54 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $112,870 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays special effects artists and animators the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for special effects artists and animators at $141,450 per year (median $133,480).
What is the job outlook for special effects artists and animators?
Employment is projected to change +1.6% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 5,000 openings per year.
What People Search
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