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The differences between special effects artists and animators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a special effects artist, becoming an animator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a special effects artist has an average salary of $80,262, which is higher than the $76,853 average annual salary of an animator.
The top three skills for a special effects artist include animation, maya and graphic design. The most important skills for an animator are animation, motion capture, and storyboards.
Special effects artists and animators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Special Effects Artist | Animator | |
| Average salary | $80,262 | $76,853 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $146,000 | Between $52,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | New York | Nevada |
| Best paying company | The Walt Disney Company | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Hospitality | Media |
There are a few differences between a special effects artist and an animator in terms of educational background:
| Special Effects Artist | Animator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Animation |
| Most common college | - | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between special effects artists' and animators' demographics:
| Special Effects Artist | Animator | |
| Average age | 34 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 54.5% Female, 45.5% | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 13.6% White, 51.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 11% |