Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA is $76,110/year ($36.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $76,064 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,820/month, about 36.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $76K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About special effects artists and animators
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What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $102K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,820/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for special effects artists and animatorss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special effects artists and animators in metros near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $92K | $95K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $109K | $112K |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $91K | $90K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $75K | $65K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $133K | +31% | 1,130 |
| California | $131K | +28% | 7,410 |
| Nevada | $97K | -5% | 370 |
| New York | $97K | -5% | 1,540 |
| Colorado | $91K | -11% | 210 |
| Arizona | $90K | -12% | 190 |
| North Carolina | $88K | -13% | 370 |
| Utah | $88K | -14% | 320 |
| Michigan | $87K | -15% | 230 |
| Florida | $86K | -16% | 1,530 |
| Maryland | $86K | -16% | 170 |
| Tennessee | $83K | -19% | 90 |
| Virginia | $82K | -20% | 380 |
| Georgia | $81K | -20% | 350 |
| Illinois | $81K | -20% | 630 |
| Massachusetts | $81K | -21% | N/A |
| Rhode Island | $80K | -22% | N/A |
| Texas | $79K | -23% | N/A |
| Indiana | $75K | -26% | 300 |
| Pennsylvania | $72K | -30% | 300 |
| Ohio | $67K | -34% | 200 |
| Oklahoma | $67K | -34% | N/A |
| Missouri | $65K | -36% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $65K | -36% | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -36% | 210 |
| Kansas | $63K | -39% | N/A |
| West Virginia | $61K | -40% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $54K | -47% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $51K | -50% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $51K | -50% | 90 |
| Iowa | $48K | -53% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 31 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track special effects artists and animators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for special effects artists and animators in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 83% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special effects artists and animator a high-paying job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $76K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $76,110 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $103,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,850/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 37.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a special effects artists and animators salary go in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special effects artists and animators salary is worth about $76,064 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special effects artists and animators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.