How much do Special Effects Artists and Animators make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

Percentile spread

For Special Effects Artists and Animators, the published 10th percentile is $46,770 and the 90th percentile is $102,150. The difference is $55,380, which is 70.6% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $66,920 to the 75th at $79,560, covers $12,640.

The mean annual wage is $74,610, which sits below the median of $78,430. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median is 23.1% lower than the national median of $102,030 for Special Effects Artists and Animators. In 2024 national prices the local median is $80,079, which is 21.5% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 3.8% lower than the Virginia median of $81,510.

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Virginia, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $78,430 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Special Effects Artists and Animators at $80,079 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

5 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Special Effects Artists and Animators. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 5th of 6 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Richmond, VA is 70 miles away, with a median of $76,380 and employment of 30. That median is 2.6% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $78,052, against $80,079 here.
• Raleigh-Cary, NC is 137 miles away, with a median of $79,360 and employment of 100. That median is 1.2% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $80,850, against $80,079 here.
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 150 miles away, with a median of $92,760 and employment of 290. That median is 18.3% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $85,192, against $80,079 here.