Special Effects Artists and Animators
SOC 27-1014 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators is $99,060, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $109,630, and an estimated 29,940 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +27.5% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of +8.3% after inflation. BLS projects employment will grow 1.6% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $99,060 | $99,060 | 29,940 |
| 2022 | $98,950 | $103,023 | 35,990 |
| 2021 | $78,790 | $88,598 | 20,430 |
| 2020 | $77,700 | $91,477 | 26,460 |
Nominal change
+27.5%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
+8.3%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+1.6%
About average
Employment 2024
57,100
Projected 2034
58,000
Annual Openings
5,000
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Special Effects Artists and Animators earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $99,060. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $130,460 | +31.7% | 13,470 |
| Washington | $103,170 | +4.1% | 2,490 |
| New York | $100,980 | +1.9% | 1,950 |
| Connecticut | $95,200 | -3.9% | 180 |
| Nevada | $95,030 | -4.1% | 390 |
| Oregon | $94,620 | -4.5% | 360 |
| Arizona | $89,770 | -9.4% | 250 |
| Kansas | $87,550 | -11.6% | — |
| Texas | $86,360 | -12.8% | 1,870 |
| Maryland | $84,800 | -14.4% | 390 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$57,090
25th Pct
$71,570
Median
$99,060
75th Pct
$133,400
90th Pct
$169,580
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Corporation | WA | 5 | $155,295 |
| ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC | CA | 5 | $107,848 |
| BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. | CA | 4 | $142,410 |
| BYTEDANCE INC. | CA | 4 | $200,000 |
| SNAP INC. | CA | 3 | $156,719 |
| Electronic Arts, Inc. | CA | 2 | $153,626 |
| Microsoft Corporation | CA | 2 | $213,200 |
| Electronic Arts - Tiburon, A Florida Corporation | FL | 2 | $76,250 |
| Schell Games LLC | PA | 2 | $50,000 |
| Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC | CA | 2 | $125,687 |
| Hornet Animations, Inc. | NY | 2 | $139,692 |
| XVIVO LLC | CT | 2 | $90,000 |
| Rockstar New England, Inc. | MA | 2 | $105,000 |
| Brand New School LLC | NY | 2 | $95,000 |
| Technicolor Creative Services USA, Inc. | NY | 2 | $118,294 |
| Company 3 / Method, Inc. | NY | 2 | $55,994 |
| Sun Garden Research & Development, LLC | NY | 1 | $56,000 |
| Electronic Arts, Inc. | WA | 1 | $119,094 |
| Ingenuity Studios, LLC | CA | 1 | $75,670 |
| Shuttlerock, LLC | NY | 1 | $108,150 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
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