Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Compositor salary
Average compositor salary
$45,101
Understanding Compositor Salaries
The average compositor salary is $45,101 per year, or about $22 per hour. This figure reflects the compensation for professionals working in various industries, including film, animation, and publishing. Salaries can fluctuate significantly based on factors such as experience, location, and the specific sector within which a compositor operates.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level compositors typically earn less than their more experienced counterparts. For instance, those with less than one year of experience can expect to earn around $35,000, while seasoned professionals with over five years can see their salaries rise to $60,000 or more. This trend underscores the importance of gaining experience and honing skills in enhancing earning potential.
Geographic Salary Variations
Location plays a critical role in salary determination. Compositors in states like California and New York often earn higher salaries due to the concentration of media and entertainment industries. Conversely, those in less populated areas might find lower average salaries. Understanding these geographic trends can help job seekers make informed decisions about relocation or job applications.
Conclusion
For those interested in pursuing a career as a compositor, it's vital to consider both experience and location when evaluating salary expectations. By staying informed about industry trends and salary variations, you can navigate your career path effectively.
Let Zippi find your next compositor job
Let Zippi find your next compositor job
Where can a Compositor earn more?
Compositor salaries by experience level
Compositor salary estimates from across the web
Average compositor salary by state
The highest-paying states for compositors are New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. The lowest average compositor salary states are Nebraska, Missouri, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for compositors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia | $59,258 | $28.49 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,745 | $32.09 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $61,538 | $29.59 |
| 4 | Alaska | $59,581 | $28.64 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $61,229 | $29.44 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $58,002 | $27.89 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $53,609 | $25.77 |
| 8 | New York | $54,134 | $26.03 |
| 9 | Delaware | $52,057 | $25.03 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $50,069 | $24.07 |
| 11 | Washington | $51,342 | $24.68 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $46,685 | $22.44 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $46,939 | $22.57 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $45,957 | $22.09 |
| 15 | Vermont | $48,775 | $23.45 |
| 16 | Nevada | $45,950 | $22.09 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $45,963 | $22.10 |
| 18 | Maine | $48,136 | $23.14 |
| 19 | Maryland | $51,234 | $24.63 |
| 20 | California | $51,360 | $24.69 |
| 21 | Arizona | $45,958 | $22.10 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| 23 | Oregon | $47,592 | $22.88 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $51,395 | $24.71 |
| 25 | Texas | $44,213 | $21.26 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $43,996 | $21.15 |
| 27 | Indiana | $41,756 | $20.07 |
| 28 | Ohio | $41,449 | $19.93 |
| 29 | Louisiana | $42,656 | $20.51 |
| 30 | Mississippi | $42,160 | $20.27 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $41,154 | $19.79 |
| 32 | Michigan | $41,245 | $19.83 |
| 33 | Colorado | $42,723 | $20.54 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $40,508 | $19.48 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $40,279 | $19.36 |
| 36 | Kansas | $40,637 | $19.54 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $40,565 | $19.50 |
| 38 | North Carolina | $40,702 | $19.57 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $39,775 | $19.12 |
| 40 | Idaho | $40,121 | $19.29 |
| 41 | Georgia | $40,655 | $19.55 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $41,824 | $20.11 |
| 43 | Illinois | $39,707 | $19.09 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $39,041 | $18.77 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $38,575 | $18.55 |
| 46 | Florida | $38,880 | $18.69 |
| 47 | Alabama | $37,266 | $17.92 |
| 48 | Missouri | $38,068 | $18.30 |
| 49 | Montana | $37,178 | $17.87 |
| 50 | Utah | $35,959 | $17.29 |
| 51 | Iowa | $34,541 | $16.61 |
Highest paying cities for compositors
The highest-paying cities for compositors are Pittsfield, MA, New York, NY, and San Francisco, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsfield, MA | $58,964 | $28.35 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $54,303 | $26.11 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $53,368 | $25.66 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $51,819 | $24.91 |
| 5 | Royal Oak, MI | $41,501 | $19.95 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $40,061 | $19.26 |
Compositor salary details
A compositor's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a compositor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| Average | $45,101 | $3,758 | $22 |
| 25th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying compositor jobs
The highest paying types of compositors are offset press operator, mac operator, and lead press operator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Making Technician | $32,429 | $2,702 | $15.59 | 24,872 |
| Pressman | $39,994 | $3,333 | $19.23 | 673 |
| Press Operator Printing | $40,520 | $3,377 | $19.48 | 34,403 |
| Digital Print Operator | $31,749 | $2,646 | $15.26 | 46,110 |
| Offset Press Operator | $43,637 | $3,636 | $20.98 | 30,089 |
| Printer Operator | $36,411 | $3,034 | $17.51 | 43,730 |
Top companies hiring compositors now:
Which companies pay compositors the most?
Compositor salaries at Dassault Systèmes and Activision Blizzard are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average compositor salary at companies like Sony Pictures Imageworks and Industrial Light & Magic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dassault Systèmes | $94,467 | $45.42 |
| 2 | Activision Blizzard | $76,930 | $36.99 |
| 3 | Sony Pictures Imageworks | $63,487 | $30.52 |
| 4 | Industrial Light & Magic | $49,470 | $23.78 |
| 5 | PIXOMONDO | $48,449 | $23.29 |
| 6 | FuseFX | $48,143 | $23.15 |
| 7 | Psyop | $47,534 | $22.85 |
| 8 | CoSA VFX | $47,449 | $22.81 |
| 9 | BrainStorm | $46,821 | $22.51 |
| 10 | Brand New School | $46,342 | $22.28 |
| 11 | Crafty Apes VFX | $46,285 | $22.25 |
| 12 | Ingenuity Engine | $46,209 | $22.22 |
| 13 | Scanline VFX | $45,891 | $22.06 |
| 14 | Lucasfilm | $44,654 | $21.47 |
| 15 | Logan | $42,074 | $20.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Compositor salary trends
The average compositor salary has risen by $4,275 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average compositor earned $40,826 annually, but today, they earn $45,101 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for compositors over the last decade.
Compare compositor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average compositor salary over time
Compare compositor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Compositor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $45,100 | $21.68 | +2.6% |
| 2024 | $43,900 | $21.13 | +1.9% |
| 2023 | $43,100 | $20.73 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $42,600 | $20.47 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | $42,300 | $20.34 | +0.8% |
Recently added compositor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aston Carter | Compositor | Henderson, NV | 06/28/2025 | $25,044 |
| Abel Cine Tech, Inc. | Compositor & Colorist | New York, NY | 06/19/2025 | $24,000 |
| Sphere Entertainment Co | Show of Interest-Motion Graphics Compositor-Project Based | Burbank, CA | 06/09/2025 | $36,000 |
| Arrowhead Products Corporation | Composite Assoc. 1-Progression 1 | Los Alamitos, CA | 06/08/2025 | $47,897 |
| Industrial Light & Magic | Compositor-Expression of Interest | San Francisco, CA | 05/27/2025 | $101,300 |
| Joby Aviation | Composite Tool Prep and Demold | Marina, CA | 05/26/2025 | $45,914 |
| Arrowhead Products Corporation | Composite Assoc. 1-Progression 1 | Los Alamitos, CA | 05/15/2025 | $47,897 |
| Sphere Entertainment Co | Show of Interest-Motion Graphics Compositor-Project Based | Burbank, CA | 04/28/2025 | $36,000 |
| The Structures Company, LLC | (P) Aerospace Composites Assembly | Morrisville, NC | 04/25/2025 | $66,784 |
| Arrowhead Products Corporation | Composite Assoc. 3-Progression 1 | Los Alamitos, CA | 04/05/2025 | $53,615 |
Compositor salary FAQs
Search for compositor jobs