Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $83,200/year ($40/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $80,317 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 33.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $83K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,781/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special effects artists and animators in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $70K | $75K |
| St. Louis | $76K | $80K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $51K | $55K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $74K 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 34% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,775/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $83K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $83,200 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,920, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $136,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,233/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 34% 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (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 $80,317 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.