Special Effects Artists and Animators Career, Salary and Skills
Special Effects Artists and Animators have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $102,030 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 19,970. Wage data is published for 72 locations.
Occupation description
Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.
O*NET code
27-1014.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$102,030
Hourly median
$49.06
Employment
19,970
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$58,600
10th
$75,490
25th
$102,030
Median
$139,130
75th
$177,110
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Speaking | 3.25 | 3.50 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Active Learning | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Time Management | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
- Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.
- Implement and maintain configuration control systems.
- Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
Technology
- Trimble SketchUp Pro
- Two-dimensional graphics software
- Unity Technologies Unity
- UNIX
- Unreal Technology Unreal Engine
- VectorDesigner
- Xara Designer Pro
- XML User Interface XUI
- YouTube
- Ability Photopaint
- ACD Systems Canvas
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe ActionScript
- Adobe After Effects
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in CAMedian $130,540 · Employment 7,410
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $124,590 · Employment 4,650
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in New York, NYMedian $96,760 · Employment 1,560
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in NYMedian $96,770 · Employment 1,540
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in FLMedian $85,870 · Employment 1,530
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $136,770 · Employment 1,440
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in WAMedian $133,480 · Employment 1,130
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $134,120 · Employment 1,030
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in Orlando, FLMedian $91,150 · Employment 960
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in ILMedian $81,180 · Employment 630
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $83,200 · Employment 550
- Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $156,950 · Employment 510
Related careers
- Writers and AuthorsNational median $76,910
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmNational median $74,990
- Web DevelopersNational median $92,650
- Computer ProgrammersNational median $100,390
- Sound Engineering TechniciansNational median $73,130
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine OperatorsNational median $40,610
- Audio and Video TechniciansNational median $58,100
- Craft ArtistsNational median $46,080
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.