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Special effects specialist vs lead artist

The differences between special effects specialists and lead artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a special effects specialist and a lead artist. Additionally, a lead artist has an average salary of $83,041, which is higher than the $61,198 average annual salary of a special effects specialist.

The top three skills for a special effects specialist include data entry, product knowledge and quality customer service. The most important skills for a lead artist are maya, animation, and portfolio.

Special effects specialist vs lead artist overview

Special Effects SpecialistLead Artist
Yearly salary$61,198$83,041
Hourly rate$29.42$39.92
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs32,1114,799
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Special effects specialist vs lead artist salary

Special effects specialists and lead artists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Effects SpecialistLead Artist
Average salary$61,198$83,041
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $100,000Between $53,000 And $128,000
Highest paying CityDover, DESan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNevada
Best paying companyHca Hospital Services Of San DiegoMeta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between special effects specialist and lead artist education

There are a few differences between a special effects specialist and a lead artist in terms of educational background:

Special Effects SpecialistLead Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorBusinessGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Special effects specialist vs lead artist demographics

Here are the differences between special effects specialists' and lead artists' demographics:

Special Effects SpecialistLead Artist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 42.4% Female, 57.6%Male, 69.5% Female, 30.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between special effects specialist and lead artist duties and responsibilities

Special effects specialist example responsibilities.

  • Recruit, manage and motivate volunteers in public education, professional education, service and rehabilitation and tobacco control programs.
  • Detail experience involving foreclosure procedures and legal issues.
  • Collaborate with multi-disciplinary departments in architecture, facilities, creative and show set design.
  • Collaborate with team to provide intensive services such as food, shelter, and employment to educationally or economically disadvantage veterans.
  • Pull require TANF savers for proof of eligibility monthly, update service plan as needed and when barriers are remove.

Lead artist example responsibilities.

  • Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
  • Model, texture, light, and render with Maya and proprietary tools.
  • Establish a standard level of quality for asset creation while enforcing efficiency of polygon and texture usage.
  • Create various assets for a number of PC titles.
  • Model, texture and direct outsourcing efforts for 3d environmental assets.
  • Color guides with lights/shadows, perspective, and composition help visually engage the audience in the final animation.
  • Show more

Special effects specialist vs lead artist skills

Common special effects specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 43%
  • Product Knowledge, 27%
  • Quality Customer Service, 9%
  • IEP, 8%
  • Bank Policy, 3%
  • Staff Operations, 3%
Common lead artist skills
  • Maya, 13%
  • Animation, 10%
  • Portfolio, 9%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • UI, 6%
  • Texture, 5%

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