Special effects artists and animators
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Special effects artists and animators in the United States earn a median salary of $102,030 per year — about $49 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 57K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +2%.
AI & Automation Risk
This occupation is almost entirely digital, with core tasks like 3D modeling, rendering, and animation being directly disrupted by generative AI and automated rigging tools. While high-level creative direction and complex team collaboration remain human-centric, AI is rapidly automating the 'routine' aspects of CGI and visual effects, significantly increasing individual productivity and reducing the total number of workers needed for large-scale productions.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CABEST VALUE | $156,950 | Above avg (110.4) | $142,135 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,120 | Above avg (111.1) | $120,684 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 | Above avg (115.6) | $118,300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $122,880 | Above avg (106.7) | $115,196 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $109,320 | Average (97.6) | $112,040 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,590 | Above avg (113.6) | $109,707 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,750 | Above avg (111.9) | $106,134 |
| Reno, NV | $105,240 | Average (101.0) | $104,184 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $101,730 | Average (100.9) | $100,855 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $92,340 | Average (97.3) | $94,856 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $96,670 | Above avg (103.3) | $93,567 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $91,150 | Average (101.4) | $89,876 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $95,420 | Above avg (106.4) | $89,645 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $87,300 | Average (100.2) | $87,113 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $91,290 | Above avg (105.8) | $86,300 |