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Visual artist vs special effects specialist

The differences between visual artists and special effects specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a visual artist and a special effects specialist. Additionally, a visual artist has an average salary of $81,873, which is higher than the $61,198 average annual salary of a special effects specialist.

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

Visual artist vs special effects specialist overview

Visual ArtistSpecial Effects Specialist
Yearly salary$81,873$61,198
Hourly rate$39.36$29.42
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs7,20932,111
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Visual artist vs special effects specialist salary

Visual artists and special effects specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Visual ArtistSpecial Effects Specialist
Average salary$81,873$61,198
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $127,000Between $37,000 And $100,000
Highest paying CitySparks, NVDover, DE
Highest paying stateNevadaRhode Island
Best paying companyNVIDIAHca Hospital Services Of San Diego
Best paying industry--

Differences between visual artist and special effects specialist education

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

Visual ArtistSpecial Effects Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 51%
Most common majorFine ArtsBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Visual artist vs special effects specialist demographics

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

Visual ArtistSpecial Effects Specialist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 59.5% Female, 40.5%Male, 42.4% Female, 57.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.4% Asian, 7.8% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between visual artist and special effects specialist duties and responsibilities

Visual artist example responsibilities.

  • Edit video, write copy for television, radio, and web-base commercials while managing the scheduling of all studio employees.
  • Design creative materials, including advertisements, media kits, logo and promotional materials for several collaborative projects.
  • Model, texture and integrate 3D mesh FX with 3DSMax
  • Modele and shade 3D facial replacements and simulate smoke effects in Maya.
  • Design texture sheets and unique materials and shaders for particles and mesh FX.
  • Used Maya and Photoshop to create matte paintings and landscape environment using modeling and camera projection techniques.
  • Show more

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.

Visual artist vs special effects specialist skills

Common visual artist skills
  • Animation, 15%
  • Maya, 11%
  • Visual Development, 9%
  • Visual Effects, 7%
  • VFX, 6%
  • Motion Graphics, 5%
Common special effects specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 43%
  • Product Knowledge, 27%
  • Quality Customer Service, 9%
  • IEP, 8%
  • Bank Policy, 3%
  • Staff Operations, 3%

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