Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Best states for a special effects specialist
Quoted expert
Donna Kukarola
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for special effects specialists in the United States. Special effects specialist positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for special effects specialists.Pay, benefits, and opportunities vary greatly by state, and it's no different for special effects specialists. We found that New Hampshire is the best state in the nation for special effects specialists, and people in South Kingstown earn the most in the field.
New Hampshire is the best state for jobs for special effects specialists, and South Carolina is the worst. The most common pay in New Hampshire is $104,312, while the median pay in South Carolina is $39,033.We found that the South is best for special effects specialists, and the Northeast is the worst. Dover, DE is the best city in the country for special effects specialist jobs, where as New Hampshire is the best state in the country.
10 best states for special effects specialists in 2025
1. New Hampshire
Total special effects specialist jobs: 164 Average annual salary: $104,312 Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location Quotient: 1.24
2. Connecticut
Total special effects specialist jobs: 291 Average annual salary: $106,433 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
3. Delaware
Total special effects specialist jobs: 109 Average annual salary: $104,170 Lowest 10 percent earn: $64,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $167,000 Location Quotient: 1.15
4. Rhode Island
Total special effects specialist jobs: 87 Average annual salary: $106,484 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
5. Nevada
Total special effects specialist jobs: 177 Average annual salary: $98,673 Lowest 10 percent earn: $57,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $168,000 Location Quotient: 1.12
6. District of Columbia
Total special effects specialist jobs: 144 Average annual salary: $102,342 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.13
7. Michigan
Total special effects specialist jobs: 759 Average annual salary: $73,964 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Location Quotient: 1.29
8. Maryland
Total special effects specialist jobs: 460 Average annual salary: $88,887 Lowest 10 percent earn: $54,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $143,000 Location Quotient: 0.96
9. Illinois
Total special effects specialist jobs: 978 Average annual salary: $76,328 Lowest 10 percent earn: $46,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $124,000 Location Quotient: 1.08
10. North Carolina
Total special effects specialist jobs: 622 Average annual salary: $75,349 Lowest 10 percent earn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000 Location Quotient: 0.86
Special effects specialist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a special effects specialist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a special effects specialist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $104,312 | $65,000 | 1,342,795 | 164 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $106,433 | $66,000 | 3,588,184 | 291 |
| 3 | Delaware | $104,170 | $64,000 | 961,939 | 109 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $106,484 | $66,000 | 1,059,639 | 87 |
| 5 | Nevada | $98,673 | $57,000 | 2,998,039 | 177 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $102,342 | $63,000 | 693,972 | 144 |
| 7 | Michigan | $73,964 | $45,000 | 9,962,311 | 759 |
| 8 | Maryland | $88,887 | $54,000 | 6,052,177 | 460 |
| 9 | Illinois | $76,328 | $46,000 | 12,802,023 | 978 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $75,349 | $45,000 | 10,273,419 | 622 |
| 11 | Iowa | $68,822 | $42,000 | 3,145,711 | 312 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $64,193 | $38,000 | 4,454,189 | 603 |
| 13 | New York | $76,736 | $47,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,020 |
| 14 | Maine | $74,316 | $46,000 | 1,335,907 | 86 |
| 15 | Oregon | $68,467 | $39,000 | 4,142,776 | 424 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $67,358 | $39,000 | 2,088,070 | 174 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $66,254 | $41,000 | 755,393 | 86 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $69,870 | $42,000 | 1,815,857 | 98 |
| 19 | Vermont | $63,600 | $40,000 | 623,657 | 93 |
| 20 | Indiana | $67,828 | $41,000 | 6,666,818 | 462 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $61,842 | $37,000 | 3,004,279 | 261 |
| 22 | Idaho | $65,597 | $38,000 | 1,716,943 | 122 |
| 23 | Washington | $65,978 | $38,000 | 7,405,743 | 566 |
| 24 | California | $72,408 | $41,000 | 39,536,653 | 1,676 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $58,608 | $36,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,201 |
| 26 | Kansas | $65,621 | $39,000 | 2,913,123 | 190 |
| 27 | Arizona | $58,097 | $33,000 | 7,016,270 | 619 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $61,898 | $38,000 | 5,795,483 | 468 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $66,195 | $41,000 | 9,005,644 | 523 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $63,080 | $38,000 | 6,715,984 | 366 |
| 31 | Texas | $65,310 | $38,000 | 28,304,596 | 1,225 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $65,959 | $41,000 | 6,859,819 | 513 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $50,478 | $30,000 | 3,930,864 | 313 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $45,563 | $27,000 | 579,315 | 87 |
| 35 | Utah | $51,501 | $30,000 | 3,101,833 | 281 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $45,286 | $27,000 | 1,920,076 | 316 |
| 37 | Missouri | $45,803 | $27,000 | 6,113,532 | 649 |
| 38 | Ohio | $44,699 | $27,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,056 |
| 39 | Colorado | $59,245 | $35,000 | 5,607,154 | 381 |
| 40 | Florida | $52,986 | $31,000 | 20,984,400 | 961 |
| 41 | Alaska | $42,739 | $25,000 | 739,795 | 85 |
| 42 | Virginia | $55,117 | $33,000 | 8,470,020 | 563 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $51,395 | $32,000 | 5,576,606 | 405 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $32,410 | $22,000 | 1,427,538 | 97 |
| 45 | Montana | $39,948 | $24,000 | 1,050,493 | 110 |
| 46 | Alabama | $46,522 | $27,000 | 4,874,747 | 225 |
| 47 | Georgia | $48,199 | $28,000 | 10,429,379 | 547 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $39,355 | $24,000 | 869,666 | 82 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $45,493 | $27,000 | 2,984,100 | 114 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $39,462 | $23,000 | 4,684,333 | 217 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $39,033 | $23,000 | 5,024,369 | 253 |
Highest paying states for special effects specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. Special Effects Specialist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $104,312 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $106,433 |
| 3 | Delaware | $104,170 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $106,484 |
| 5 | Nevada | $98,673 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $102,342 |
| 7 | Michigan | $73,964 |
| 8 | Maryland | $88,887 |
| 9 | Illinois | $76,328 |
| 10 | North Carolina | $75,349 |
| 11 | Iowa | $68,822 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $64,193 |
| 13 | New York | $76,736 |
| 14 | Maine | $74,316 |
| 15 | Oregon | $68,467 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $67,358 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $66,254 |
| 18 | West Virginia | $69,870 |
| 19 | Vermont | $63,600 |
| 20 | Indiana | $67,828 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $61,842 |
| 22 | Idaho | $65,597 |
| 23 | Washington | $65,978 |
| 24 | California | $72,408 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $58,608 |
| 26 | Kansas | $65,621 |
| 27 | Arizona | $58,097 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $61,898 |
| 29 | New Jersey | $66,195 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $63,080 |
| 31 | Texas | $65,310 |
| 32 | Massachusetts | $65,959 |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $50,478 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $45,563 |
| 35 | Utah | $51,501 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $45,286 |
| 37 | Missouri | $45,803 |
| 38 | Ohio | $44,699 |
| 39 | Colorado | $59,245 |
| 40 | Florida | $52,986 |
| 41 | Alaska | $42,739 |
| 42 | Virginia | $55,117 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $51,395 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $32,410 |
| 45 | Montana | $39,948 |
| 46 | Alabama | $46,522 |
| 47 | Georgia | $48,199 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $39,355 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $45,493 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $39,462 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $39,033 |
Expert opinions on the best states for special effects specialists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for special effects specialists to find work opportunities?
Donna Kukarola
Procurement Director, Forsyth County, Georgia
This one, not so sure of, the southeast continues to see options as well as mid-western states.
Special effects specialist best states FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.
Search for special effects specialist jobs
Updated January 8, 2025