Special Effects Artists and Animators salary by location
National median: $102,030 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $156,950 | +53.8% | 510 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | metropolitan | $136,770 | +34.0% | 1,440 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $134,120 | +31.5% | 1,030 | 2025 |
| WA | state | $133,480 | +30.8% | 1,130 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $130,540 | +27.9% | 7,410 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $124,590 | +22.1% | 4,650 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $122,880 | +20.4% | 70 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $118,750 | +16.4% | 100 | 2025 |
| Durham, NC | metropolitan | $109,320 | +7.1% | — | 2025 |
| Reno, NV | metropolitan | $105,240 | +3.1% | 90 | 2025 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | metropolitan | $101,730 | −0.3% | 170 | 2025 |
| NV | state | $97,350 | −4.6% | 370 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $96,770 | −5.2% | 1,540 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $96,760 | −5.2% | 1,560 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | metropolitan | $96,670 | −5.3% | 150 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $95,420 | −6.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $92,760 | −9.1% | 290 | 2025 |
| Charlotte, NC | metropolitan | $92,340 | −9.5% | — | 2025 |
| CO | state | $91,290 | −10.5% | 210 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $91,290 | −10.5% | 140 | 2025 |
| Orlando, FL | metropolitan | $91,150 | −10.7% | 960 | 2025 |
| Baltimore, MD | metropolitan | $90,050 | −11.7% | 90 | 2025 |
| AZ | state | $89,650 | −12.1% | 190 | 2025 |
| NC | state | $88,350 | −13.4% | 370 | 2025 |
| UT | state | $88,210 | −13.5% | 320 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | metropolitan | $87,300 | −14.4% | 260 | 2025 |
| MI | state | $86,630 | −15.1% | 230 | 2025 |
| FL | state | $85,870 | −15.8% | 1,530 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $85,830 | −15.9% | 170 | 2025 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | metropolitan | $83,530 | −18.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $83,200 | −18.5% | 550 | 2025 |
| TN | state | $83,080 | −18.6% | 90 | 2025 |
| Austin, TX | metropolitan | $82,570 | −19.1% | — | 2025 |
| VA | state | $81,510 | −20.1% | 380 | 2025 |
| GA | state | $81,390 | −20.2% | 350 | 2025 |
| IL | state | $81,180 | −20.4% | 630 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $80,640 | −21.0% | — | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $80,640 | −21.0% | — | 2025 |
| RI | state | $80,040 | −21.6% | — | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | metropolitan | $80,040 | −21.6% | — | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $79,390 | −22.2% | — | 2025 |
| Raleigh, NC | metropolitan | $79,360 | −22.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $78,930 | −22.6% | — | 2025 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | metropolitan | $78,430 | −23.1% | — | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | metropolitan | $77,690 | −23.9% | — | 2025 |
| Huntsville, AL | metropolitan | $77,640 | −23.9% | 40 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | metropolitan | $76,970 | −24.6% | — | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $76,770 | −24.8% | 100 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $76,380 | −25.1% | 30 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $76,110 | −25.4% | 290 | 2025 |
| St. Louis, MO | metropolitan | $75,820 | −25.7% | 50 | 2025 |
| IN | state | $75,250 | −26.2% | 300 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | metropolitan | $74,520 | −27.0% | 180 | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | metropolitan | $74,140 | −27.3% | 100 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $71,760 | −29.7% | 300 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | metropolitan | $69,820 | −31.6% | — | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | metropolitan | $69,300 | −32.1% | — | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | metropolitan | $67,710 | −33.6% | 30 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $67,000 | −34.3% | 200 | 2025 |
| OK | state | $66,980 | −34.4% | — | 2025 |
| MO | state | $65,470 | −35.8% | 80 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $64,990 | −36.3% | 30 | 2025 |
| WI | state | $64,890 | −36.4% | 210 | 2025 |
| KS | state | $62,720 | −38.5% | — | 2025 |
| WV | state | $60,940 | −40.3% | 40 | 2025 |
| NM | state | $54,000 | −47.1% | 80 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | metropolitan | $54,000 | −47.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| Omaha, NE | metropolitan | $53,280 | −47.8% | 40 | 2025 |
| KY | state | $50,970 | −50.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | metropolitan | $50,960 | −50.1% | 30 | 2025 |
| NE | state | $50,830 | −50.2% | 90 | 2025 |
| IA | state | $47,530 | −53.4% | — | 2025 |