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Special effects artist salary
Average special effects artist salary
$80,262
Understanding Special Effects Artist Salaries
A special effects artist plays a crucial role in the entertainment industry, creating visual effects that enhance storytelling. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position is $80,262 per year. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, geographic location, and the type of projects undertaken.
Where Can Special Effects Artists Earn More? Cities like Los Angeles and New York are among the highest paying locations for special effects artists, often offering salaries above the national average. Additionally, industries such as film and video game production tend to provide higher compensation compared to others.
Experience also plays a vital role in salary determination. Entry-level positions may start around $50,000, while those with several years of experience can earn well above $100,000, particularly in senior roles or specialized fields.
For aspiring artists, gaining proficiency in software like Adobe After Effects and learning about CGI can be beneficial. Continuous skill development ensures competitiveness in this evolving field, potentially leading to lucrative opportunities and career advancement.
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Where can a Special Effects Artist earn more?
Average special effects artist salary by state
The highest-paying states for special effects artists are New York, New Jersey, and Michigan. The lowest average special effects artist salary states are Wyoming, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for special effects artists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | $132,147 | $63.53 |
| 2 | New York | $142,573 | $68.54 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $118,176 | $56.82 |
| 4 | Illinois | $119,529 | $57.47 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $141,924 | $68.23 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $106,199 | $51.06 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $104,729 | $50.35 |
| 8 | Vermont | $99,942 | $48.05 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $100,597 | $48.36 |
| 10 | Iowa | $113,327 | $54.48 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $105,664 | $50.80 |
| 12 | Kansas | $107,809 | $51.83 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $99,635 | $47.90 |
| 14 | Texas | $109,481 | $52.64 |
| 15 | Connecticut | $98,091 | $47.16 |
| 16 | Alaska | $98,985 | $47.59 |
| 17 | Ohio | $85,611 | $41.16 |
| 18 | Georgia | $101,939 | $49.01 |
| 19 | Oregon | $87,088 | $41.87 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $83,843 | $40.31 |
| 21 | Nevada | $92,304 | $44.38 |
| 22 | Delaware | $93,674 | $45.04 |
| 23 | Massachusetts | $100,185 | $48.17 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $74,656 | $35.89 |
| 25 | Maryland | $91,930 | $44.20 |
| 26 | Maine | $90,506 | $43.51 |
| 27 | Washington | $85,829 | $41.26 |
| 28 | Montana | $81,544 | $39.20 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $90,955 | $43.73 |
| 30 | Utah | $79,624 | $38.28 |
| 31 | California | $89,271 | $42.92 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $84,410 | $40.58 |
| 33 | Arizona | $72,847 | $35.02 |
| 34 | North Dakota | $75,524 | $36.31 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $72,956 | $35.08 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $70,605 | $33.94 |
| 37 | Missouri | $71,846 | $34.54 |
| 38 | Idaho | $78,810 | $37.89 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $74,882 | $36.00 |
| 40 | Wyoming | $66,739 | $32.09 |
| 41 | Indiana | $70,053 | $33.68 |
| 42 | Colorado | $73,667 | $35.42 |
| 43 | Virginia | $76,408 | $36.73 |
| 44 | Minnesota | $70,560 | $33.92 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $59,104 | $28.42 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $69,269 | $33.30 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $69,667 | $33.49 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $66,040 | $31.75 |
| 49 | North Carolina | $66,507 | $31.97 |
| 50 | Alabama | $60,055 | $28.87 |
| 51 | Florida | $57,857 | $27.82 |
Highest paying cities for special effects artists
The highest-paying cities for special effects artists are New York, NY, Arlington, TX, and Andover, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $146,605 | $70.48 |
| 2 | Arlington, TX | $109,702 | $52.74 |
| 3 | Andover, MA | $100,730 | $48.43 |
| 4 | Redwood City, CA | $98,239 | $47.23 |
| 5 | Las Vegas, NV | $90,731 | $43.62 |
| 6 | Bellevue, WA | $86,548 | $41.61 |
| 7 | Allentown, PA | $84,885 | $40.81 |
Special effects artist salary details
A special effects artist's salary ranges from $43,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $146,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a special effects artist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $146,000 | $12,167 | $70 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $80,262 | $6,689 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
Highest paying special effects artist jobs
The highest paying types of special effects artists are body make-up artist, artist, and makeup instructor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelance Makeup Artist | $42,487 | $3,541 | $20.43 | 4,009 |
| Artist | $68,690 | $5,724 | $33.02 | 3,870 |
| Makeup Artist | $41,026 | $3,419 | $19.72 | 4,620 |
Top companies hiring special effects artists now:
Which companies pay special effects artists the most?
Special effects artist salaries at The Walt Disney Company and PIXOMONDO are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average special effects artist salary at companies like DreamWorks Animation and PlayStation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Walt Disney Company | $131,308 | $63.13 |
| 2 | PIXOMONDO | $124,606 | $59.91 |
| 3 | DreamWorks Animation | $104,833 | $50.40 |
| 4 | PlayStation | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| 5 | NOV | $99,029 | $47.61 |
| 6 | Valve | $84,856 | $40.80 |
| 7 | MGM Resorts International | $57,564 | $27.68 |
| 8 | Worlds of Fun | $56,421 | $27.13 |
| 9 | Six Flags | $47,281 | $22.73 |
| 10 | Cedar Fair | $36,376 | $17.49 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Special effects artist salary trends
The average special effects artist salary has risen by $40,409 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average special effects artist earned $39,853 annually, but today, they earn $80,262 a year. That works out to a 75% change in pay for special effects artists over the last decade.
Compare special effects artist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average special effects artist salary over time
Compare special effects artist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Special effects artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $80,300 | $38.59 | +29.2% |
| 2024 | $56,800 | $27.33 | +15.2% |
| 2023 | $48,200 | $23.19 | +7.7% |
| 2022 | $44,500 | $21.40 | -2.8% |
| 2021 | $45,800 | $22.00 | +12.7% |
Recently added special effects artist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sphere Entertainment Co | Show of Interest-After Effects Artist-Project Based | Burbank, CA | 06/09/2025 | $28,800 |
| Sphere Entertainment Co | Show of Interest-After Effects Artist-Project Based | Burbank, CA | 04/28/2025 | $28,800 |
| Sphereentertainment | Project Based-After Effects Artist | Burbank, CA | 03/26/2025 | $28,800 |
| Apple Inc. | Special Effects Artist and Animator | Cupertino, CA | 02/09/2025 | $151,590 |
| Apple Inc. | Special Effects Artist and Animator | Cupertino, CA | 02/09/2025 | $176,717 |
| Entertainers Worldwide Ltd. | Male Speciality Artists Required for Cruise Ship Opportunity | Ione, OR | 10/23/2024 | $13,200 |
| Strategic Operations Inc. | Special Effects Make-Up Artist/Wardrobe Speci | San Diego, CA | 09/11/2024 | $37,566 |
| Meta | Effects Artist-Games | Boston, MA | 07/21/2024 | $144,354 |
| Meta | Effects Artist-Games | Trenton, NJ | 07/21/2024 | $144,354 |
| Meta | Effects Artist-Games | Denver, CO | 07/21/2024 | $144,354 |
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