Special Effects Artists and Animators

SOC: 27-1014 O*NET: 27-1014.00
Median Salary
$99,800
per year
Job Growth
➡️ 1.6%
Average (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
5
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

What does a Special Effects Artists and Animators do?

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

How much can you earn?

Entry Level
$57,220
10th percentile
Early Career
$73,030
25th percentile
Median
$99,800
50th percentile
Experienced
$135,600
75th percentile
Top Earners
$174,630
90th percentile

National Salary Distribution

10th
$57,220
25th
$73,030
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$99,800
Mean: $110,110
75th
$135,600
90th
$174,630
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)

Key Insights

  • Salary range spans $117,410 from entry level to top earners
  • Middle 50% earn between $73,030 and $135,600
  • Salary spread is 62.7% around the median, showing high variation
  • Total national employment: 21,280 professionals

What's the job outlook?

Job Market Intelligence

Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk

Current Employment

National Employment:57,100

Top Industries

Information55.2%
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries28.9%
Motion Picture and Video Industries28.6%

10-Year Outlook

Growth Rate:+1.6%
Annual Openings:5,000

Employment Projections

2024 (Current)57,100
Current
2034 (Projected)58,000
+1.6%
+900
Employment Change
+1.6%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection

Growth Category: More slowly than average

Geographic Salary & Employment Data

Explore where Special Effects Artists and Animators professionals work across the United States

Showing 15 of 35 locations
California
7,690 jobs$128,3603.08x
Washington
2,510 jobs$05.15x
New York
1,820 jobs$102,1701.38x
Florida
1,430 jobs$73,8201.06x
Georgia
860 jobs$79,0401.28x
Oregon
470 jobs$108,6301.73x
Nevada
420 jobs$86,2901.99x
Maryland
370 jobs$81,7000.99x
Michigan
330 jobs$80,7800.54x
Ohio
290 jobs$83,5300.39x
Massachusetts
270 jobs$76,5000.53x
Virginia
260 jobs$79,1000.46x
North Carolina
250 jobs$65,0000.37x
Colorado
240 jobs$95,1300.61x
Connecticut
230 jobs$01.00x

Understanding the Data

Location Quotient (LQ):

  • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
  • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
  • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average

Data Source:

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024

Key Growth Factors

    Standard growth expectations for this occupation

    What skills do you need?

    Top 10 Most Important Skills

    #1
    Active Listening
    100%
    #2
    Critical Thinking
    94%
    #3
    Reading Comprehension
    86%
    #4
    Speaking
    80%
    #5
    Writing
    74%
    #6
    Judgment and Decision Making
    66%
    #7
    Active Learning
    60%
    #8
    Complex Problem Solving
    54%
    #9
    Monitoring
    46%
    #10
    Time Management
    40%

    Skills Overview

    Active Listening
    advanced5.0
    100%
    Critical Thinking
    advanced4.7
    94%
    Reading Comprehension
    basic4.3
    86%
    Speaking
    intermediate4.0
    80%
    Writing
    intermediate3.7
    74%
    Judgment and Decision Making
    intermediate3.3
    66%
    Active Learning
    intermediate3.0
    60%
    Complex Problem Solving
    advanced2.7
    54%

    Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.

    Filter:
    Sort by:

    Active Listening

    advanced
    Importance100%
    skills
    5.0/5.0

    Critical Thinking

    advanced
    Importance94%
    abilities
    4.7/5.0

    Reading Comprehension

    basic
    Importance86%
    abilities
    4.3/5.0

    Speaking

    intermediate
    Importance80%
    skills
    4.0/5.0

    Writing

    intermediate
    Importance74%
    skills
    3.7/5.0

    Judgment and Decision Making

    intermediate
    Importance66%
    abilities
    3.3/5.0

    Active Learning

    intermediate
    Importance60%
    abilities
    3.0/5.0

    Complex Problem Solving

    advanced
    Importance54%
    abilities
    2.7/5.0

    Monitoring

    basic
    Importance46%
    skills
    2.3/5.0

    Time Management

    basic
    Importance40%
    skills
    2.0/5.0

    Highly Transferable Skills

    These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:

    Desktop Publishers100%
    5 shared skills
    Electrical and Electronics Drafters100%
    5 shared skills
    Family Medicine Physicians100%
    5 shared skills
    Film and Video Editors100%
    5 shared skills
    Appraisers of Personal and Business Property90%
    5 shared skills
    Upholsterers90%
    5 shared skills

    Skills by Career Stage

    Entry Level

    Must Have:
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    Learn on the Job:
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Active Learning
    • Complex Problem Solving

    Mid Career

    Expected:
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension

    Senior Level

    Mastery Required:
    • Active Listening
    • Speaking
    • Critical Thinking
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Writing

    Skill Development Tips

    • Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
    • Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
    • Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
    • Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time

    What technology will you use?

    Technology & Digital Skills

    Essential technology proficiencies for Special Effects Artists and Animators

    Technology Intensity
    Very High

    Digital Literacy Requirements

    This career requires expert digital literacy

    1
    Basic
    2
    Intermediate
    3
    Advanced
    4
    Expert

    Key Digital Competencies:

    Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
    🔥

    Hot Technologies in Demand

    These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field

    Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Adobe InDesign

    🔥 Hot Tech

    C

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Adobe Acrobat

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Extensible markup language XML

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Figma

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Adobe Creative Cloud software

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Adobe Illustrator

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Adobe Photoshop

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Trimble SketchUp Pro

    🔥 Hot Tech

    C++

    🔥 Hot Tech

    jQuery

    🔥 Hot Tech

    Technology Stack

    Technology Stack Overview

    Key technologies used in this career

    Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
    Adobe InDesign
    C
    Adobe Acrobat
    Extensible markup language XML
    Figma
    Adobe Creative Cloud software
    Adobe Illustrator
    Adobe Photoshop
    Trimble SketchUp Pro
    C++
    jQuery

    📚 Technology Learning Resources

    Recommended Certifications

    • Vendor-specific software certifications
    • Industry-recognized technology credentials
    • Professional development courses

    Online Learning Platforms

    • LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
    • Coursera - University-level programs
    • Udemy - Practical skills training

    💡 Technology Skill Development Tips

    • Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
    • Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
    • Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
    • Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers

    What's the work environment like?

    🏢
    Location
    MOSTLY INDOOR
    💪
    Physical Demand
    LOW
    👥
    Team Orientation
    SOME TEAM
    🤝
    Customer Interaction
    FREQUENT

    💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?

    Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:

    • Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
    • Can you meet low physical demands?
    • Do you enjoy some team team environments?
    • Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?

    What are the key tasks?

    Tasks & Responsibilities

    13
    Core Tasks
    8
    Daily Tasks
    20
    Work Activities
    0
    Emerging Tasks
    Filter:
    Sort by:
    Planning & Development (6)General Responsibilities (6)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)
    1

    Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    100%
    Planning & Development100% perform
    2

    Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    98%
    General Responsibilities97% perform
    3

    Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    96%
    General Responsibilities94% perform
    4

    Assemble, typeset, scan, and produce digital camera-ready art or film negatives and printer's proofs.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    94%
    General Responsibilities91% perform
    5

    Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    92%
    Planning & Development88% perform
    6

    Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    90%
    Planning & Development85% perform
    7

    Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    88%
    Planning & Development82% perform
    8

    Create pen-and-paper images to be scanned, edited, colored, textured, or animated by computer.

    🔴
    Daily
    Importance:
    86%
    General Responsibilities79% perform
    9

    Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.

    🟡
    Weekly
    Importance:
    84%
    Planning & Development76% perform
    10

    Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.

    🟡
    Weekly
    Importance:
    82%
    General Responsibilities73% perform

    💡 Key Takeaways

    • Daily tasks focus primarily on planning & development activities
    • 54% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
    • Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities

    What career paths are available?

    Career Pathways

    0
    Advancement Opportunities
    0
    Lateral Move Options
    0%
    Avg. Salary Increase

    Advancement Opportunities

    Typical career progression paths from Special Effects Artists and Animators

    💡 Career Planning Tips

    • Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
    • Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
    • Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
    • Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves

    Is this career right for you?

    Personality & Values Fit

    Is This Career Right for You?

    Special Effects Artists and Animators professionals typically have a ARC Holland code and highly value independence

    AArtistic
    RRealistic
    CConventional

    Important Personality Traits

    Work styles that contribute to success as a Special Effects Artists and Animators

    Attention to Detail

    Critical

    Attention to Detail

    Importance Level4.80

    Cooperation

    Very Important

    Cooperation

    Importance Level4.17

    Integrity

    Very Important

    Integrity

    Importance Level4.16

    Adaptability/Flexibility

    Very Important

    Adaptability/Flexibility

    Importance Level4.09

    Achievement/Effort

    Very Important

    Achievement/Effort

    Importance Level4.07

    Dependability

    Very Important

    Dependability

    Importance Level4.02

    Complete Work Styles Profile

    Attention to Detail
    4.8
    Cooperation
    4.2
    Integrity
    4.2
    Adaptability/Flexibility
    4.1
    Achievement/Effort
    4.1
    Dependability
    4.0
    Stress Tolerance
    4.0
    Initiative
    4.0
    Self-Control
    3.9
    Persistence
    3.9

    💡 Tips for Career Fit Success

    • While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
    • Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
    • Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
    • Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career

    What education is required?

    Education Level

    Bachelor's degree or higher
    Typical duration: 4 years

    Preparation Level

    Job Zone 4
    Considerable Preparation Needed

    Experience Needed

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

    📚 Education Requirement

    Required Level:Bachelor's degree or higher

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Training:

    Significant preparation with related work experience

    💼 Experience Requirement

    A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed

    Common pathways to gain experience:

    • Bachelor's degree in related field
    • Several years of work experience
    • Professional certifications often required
    4

    Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

    Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

    Bachelor's degree in related fieldSeveral years of work experienceProfessional certifications often required

    Ready to Start Your Journey?

    Explore educational programs that can help you become a Special Effects Artists and Animators.

    Browse Training Programs →