SOC 27-1014 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
Special Effects Artists and Animators wages by metro
National median annual wage
$102,030
- 10th percentile
- $58,600
- 25th percentile
- $75,490
- Median
- $102,030
- 75th percentile
- $139,130
- 90th percentile
- $177,110
- Mean
- $112,870
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 19,970.
That median is 100.1% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 510 | $99,280 | $156,950 | $215,680 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,440 | $86,370 | $136,770 | $205,810 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,030 | $65,380 | $134,120 | $210,350 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,650 | $64,740 | $124,590 | $206,900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 70 | $72,640 | $122,880 | $167,980 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 100 | $78,010 | $118,750 | $162,580 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Not available | $57,820 | $109,320 | $124,660 |
| Reno, NV | 90 | $76,730 | $105,240 | $149,740 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 170 | $37,540 | $101,730 | $164,960 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,560 | $62,640 | $96,760 | $176,000 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 150 | $65,810 | $96,670 | $100,230 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 40 | $64,550 | $95,420 | $162,880 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 290 | $55,410 | $92,760 | $138,210 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | Not available | $57,570 | $92,340 | $131,320 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 140 | $67,310 | $91,290 | $129,580 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 960 | $81,730 | $91,150 | $104,410 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 90 | $54,100 | $90,050 | $123,650 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 260 | $72,590 | $87,300 | $120,680 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 50 | $58,630 | $83,530 | $111,300 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 550 | $62,920 | $83,200 | $136,740 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 4,650 | $64,740 | $124,590 | $206,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,560 | $62,640 | $96,760 | $176,000 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,440 | $86,370 | $136,770 | $205,810 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,030 | $65,380 | $134,120 | $210,350 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 960 | $81,730 | $91,150 | $104,410 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 690 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 550 | $62,920 | $83,200 | $136,740 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 510 | $99,280 | $156,950 | $215,680 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 290 | $36,580 | $76,110 | $103,480 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 290 | $55,410 | $92,760 | $138,210 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 260 | $72,590 | $87,300 | $120,680 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 180 | $62,980 | $74,520 | $127,490 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 170 | $37,540 | $101,730 | $164,960 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 150 | $65,810 | $96,670 | $100,230 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 140 | $67,310 | $91,290 | $129,580 |
| Madison, WI | 120 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 100 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 100 | $59,880 | $76,770 | $112,640 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 100 | $51,520 | $79,360 | $124,230 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 100 | $78,010 | $118,750 | $162,580 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1,130 | $65,270 | $133,480 | $209,400 |
| California | 7,410 | $71,710 | $130,540 | $206,160 |
| Nevada | 370 | $72,720 | $97,350 | $129,470 |
| New York | 1,540 | $60,190 | $96,770 | $176,190 |
| Colorado | 210 | $57,350 | $91,290 | $124,990 |
| Arizona | 190 | $59,870 | $89,650 | $100,230 |
| North Carolina | 370 | $53,790 | $88,350 | $120,150 |
| Utah | 320 | $29,990 | $88,210 | $152,720 |
| Michigan | 230 | $54,260 | $86,630 | $194,550 |
| Florida | 1,530 | $71,140 | $85,870 | $114,920 |
| Maryland | 170 | $52,710 | $85,830 | $110,750 |
| Tennessee | 90 | $60,320 | $83,080 | $170,300 |
| Virginia | 380 | $47,140 | $81,510 | $138,210 |
| Georgia | 350 | $40,000 | $81,390 | $106,120 |
| Illinois | 630 | $60,760 | $81,180 | $136,710 |
| Massachusetts | Not available | $57,900 | $80,640 | $109,820 |
| Rhode Island | Not available | $45,810 | $80,040 | $99,060 |
| Texas | Not available | $56,020 | $78,930 | $150,000 |
| Indiana | 300 | $50,920 | $75,250 | $93,090 |
| Pennsylvania | 300 | $49,680 | $71,760 | $103,940 |
| Ohio | 200 | $45,310 | $67,000 | $166,260 |
| Oklahoma | Not available | $50,820 | $66,980 | $77,860 |
| Missouri | 80 | $48,020 | $65,470 | $103,740 |
| Minnesota | 30 | $62,070 | $64,990 | $77,990 |
| Wisconsin | 210 | $53,270 | $64,890 | $154,340 |
| Kansas | Not available | $56,470 | $62,720 | $102,530 |
| West Virginia | 40 | $50,860 | $60,940 | $77,740 |
| New Mexico | 80 | $52,070 | $54,000 | $82,180 |
| Kentucky | 40 | $44,700 | $50,970 | $89,930 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $43,340 | $50,830 | $80,520 |
| Iowa | Not available | $39,300 | $47,530 | $104,000 |
| Alabama | 110 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| New Jersey | 320 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Oregon | 870 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
- Public Relations Specialists
- Coaches and Scouts
- Graphic Designers
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
- Producers and Directors
- Editors
- Interior Designers
- Audio and Video Technicians
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators is $102,030. Employment is 19,970.
How does Special Effects Artists and Animators pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Special Effects Artists and Animators is 100.1% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA is highest on this page's list at $156,950.