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Best states for a special effects artist
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Are you thinking of becoming a special effects artist and really want to work at DreamWorks Animation? Turns out, your chances to become a special effects artist are better in some states than others.Although there are abundant special effects artist jobs in the United States, a large number of them are in the South. Michigan is the best state in the country for special effects artist jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for special effects artists.We found that Michigan is the best state for special effects artist jobs, whereas Florida is the worst.
10 best states for special effects artists in 2026
1. Michigan
Total special effects artist jobs: 450 Average annual salary: $132,147 Lowest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $211,000 Location Quotient: 1.6
2. New York
Total special effects artist jobs: 459 Average annual salary: $142,573 Lowest 10 percent earn: $91,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 0.99
3. New Mexico
Total special effects artist jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $118,176 Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $193,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
4. Illinois
Total special effects artist jobs: 587 Average annual salary: $119,529 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $195,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
5. New Jersey
Total special effects artist jobs: 232 Average annual salary: $141,924 Lowest 10 percent earn: $90,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $222,000 Location Quotient: 0.81
6. Oklahoma
Total special effects artist jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $106,199 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location Quotient: 1.59
7. Arkansas
Total special effects artist jobs: 144 Average annual salary: $104,729 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location Quotient: 1.52
8. Vermont
Total special effects artist jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $99,942 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.65
9. New Hampshire
Total special effects artist jobs: 97 Average annual salary: $100,597 Lowest 10 percent earn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.53
10. Iowa
Total special effects artist jobs: 102 Average annual salary: $113,327 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $186,000 Location Quotient: 0.78
Special effects artist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special effects artist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special effects artist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $132,147 | $82,000 | 9,962,311 | 450 |
| 2 | New York | $142,573 | $91,000 | 19,849,399 | 459 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $118,176 | $72,000 | 2,088,070 | 97 |
| 4 | Illinois | $119,529 | $73,000 | 12,802,023 | 587 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $141,924 | $90,000 | 9,005,644 | 232 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $106,199 | $64,000 | 3,930,864 | 177 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $104,729 | $62,000 | 3,004,279 | 144 |
| 8 | Vermont | $99,942 | $60,000 | 623,657 | 46 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $100,597 | $60,000 | 1,342,795 | 97 |
| 10 | Iowa | $113,327 | $68,000 | 3,145,711 | 102 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $105,664 | $63,000 | 6,715,984 | 138 |
| 12 | Kansas | $107,809 | $65,000 | 2,913,123 | 64 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $99,635 | $60,000 | 1,059,639 | 40 |
| 14 | Texas | $109,481 | $65,000 | 28,304,596 | 334 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $98,091 | $59,000 | 3,588,184 | 182 |
| 16 | Alaska | $98,985 | $59,000 | 739,795 | 33 |
| 17 | Ohio | $85,611 | $50,000 | 11,658,609 | 685 |
| 18 | Georgia | $101,939 | $60,000 | 10,429,379 | 161 |
| 19 | Oregon | $87,088 | $50,000 | 4,142,776 | 240 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $83,843 | $50,000 | 12,805,537 | 676 |
| 21 | Nevada | $92,304 | $54,000 | 2,998,039 | 60 |
| 22 | Delaware | $93,674 | $56,000 | 961,939 | 38 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $100,185 | $60,000 | 6,859,819 | 155 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $74,656 | $43,000 | 4,454,189 | 489 |
| 25 | Maryland | $91,930 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 201 |
| 26 | Maine | $90,506 | $53,000 | 1,335,907 | 35 |
| 27 | Washington | $85,829 | $49,000 | 7,405,743 | 359 |
| 28 | Montana | $81,544 | $46,000 | 1,050,493 | 54 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $90,955 | $54,000 | 693,972 | 60 |
| 30 | Utah | $79,624 | $46,000 | 3,101,833 | 155 |
| 31 | California | $89,271 | $52,000 | 39,536,653 | 986 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $84,410 | $49,000 | 1,815,857 | 27 |
| 33 | Arizona | $72,847 | $43,000 | 7,016,270 | 363 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $75,524 | $45,000 | 755,393 | 36 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $72,956 | $43,000 | 5,795,483 | 305 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $70,605 | $42,000 | 1,920,076 | 187 |
| 37 | Missouri | $71,846 | $42,000 | 6,113,532 | 433 |
| 38 | Idaho | $78,810 | $45,000 | 1,716,943 | 46 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $74,882 | $44,000 | 869,666 | 32 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $66,739 | $39,000 | 579,315 | 48 |
| 41 | Indiana | $70,053 | $41,000 | 6,666,818 | 255 |
| 42 | Colorado | $73,667 | $43,000 | 5,607,154 | 162 |
| 43 | Virginia | $76,408 | $45,000 | 8,470,020 | 143 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $70,560 | $41,000 | 5,576,606 | 176 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $59,104 | $42,000 | 1,427,538 | 28 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $69,269 | $40,000 | 5,024,369 | 94 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $69,667 | $40,000 | 4,684,333 | 67 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $66,040 | $38,000 | 2,984,100 | 46 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $66,507 | $38,000 | 10,273,419 | 137 |
| 50 | Alabama | $60,055 | $35,000 | 4,874,747 | 62 |
| 51 | Florida | $57,857 | $32,000 | 20,984,400 | 165 |
Highest paying states for special effects artists
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Effects Artist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $132,147 |
| 2 | New York | $142,573 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $118,176 |
| 4 | Illinois | $119,529 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $141,924 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $106,199 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $104,729 |
| 8 | Vermont | $99,942 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $100,597 |
| 10 | Iowa | $113,327 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $105,664 |
| 12 | Kansas | $107,809 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $99,635 |
| 14 | Texas | $109,481 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $98,091 |
| 16 | Alaska | $98,985 |
| 17 | Ohio | $85,611 |
| 18 | Georgia | $101,939 |
| 19 | Oregon | $87,088 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $83,843 |
| 21 | Nevada | $92,304 |
| 22 | Delaware | $93,674 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $100,185 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $74,656 |
| 25 | Maryland | $91,930 |
| 26 | Maine | $90,506 |
| 27 | Washington | $85,829 |
| 28 | Montana | $81,544 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $90,955 |
| 30 | Utah | $79,624 |
| 31 | California | $89,271 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $84,410 |
| 33 | Arizona | $72,847 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $75,524 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $72,956 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $70,605 |
| 37 | Missouri | $71,846 |
| 38 | Idaho | $78,810 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $74,882 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $66,739 |
| 41 | Indiana | $70,053 |
| 42 | Colorado | $73,667 |
| 43 | Virginia | $76,408 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $70,560 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $59,104 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $69,269 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $69,667 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $66,040 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $66,507 |
| 50 | Alabama | $60,055 |
| 51 | Florida | $57,857 |
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Updated January 8, 2025