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Special effects specialist vs technical artist

The differences between special effects specialists and technical 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 technical artist. Additionally, a technical artist has an average salary of $90,692, 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 technical artist are python, animation, and C++.

Special effects specialist vs technical artist overview

Special Effects SpecialistTechnical Artist
Yearly salary$61,198$90,692
Hourly rate$29.42$43.60
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs32,11170,696
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Special effects specialist vs technical artist salary

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

Special Effects SpecialistTechnical Artist
Average salary$61,198$90,692
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $100,000Between $57,000 And $141,000
Highest paying CityDover, DENovato, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandNevada
Best paying companyHca Hospital Services Of San DiegoMeta
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between special effects specialist and technical artist education

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

Special Effects SpecialistTechnical Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorBusinessGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Special effects specialist vs technical artist demographics

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

Special Effects SpecialistTechnical Artist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 42.4% Female, 57.6%Male, 75.9% Female, 24.1%
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, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between special effects specialist and technical 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.

Technical artist example responsibilities.

  • Manage Unity3D assets for game prototype.
  • Write tools in Maxscript, MEL, javascript, python, and vbscript to automate repetitive processes.
  • Create 2D / 3D art assets for PC and PlayStation 3 video games.
  • Fill numerous roles as needed from UI & FX, to environment art, implementation, and tool authoring.
  • Design, develop and support software tools for animation production pipeline.
  • Write tools in Mel for the art team.
  • Show more

Special effects specialist vs technical 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 technical artist skills
  • Python, 17%
  • Animation, 10%
  • C++, 8%
  • Unity, 7%
  • MEL, 6%
  • Game Development, 4%

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