Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Colorado is $91,290/year ($43.89/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $88,024 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,832/month, about 31.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $91K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About special effects artists and animators
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What this looks like in Colorado
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Colorado runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $125K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary by metro in Colorado
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $91K | +0% | 140 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $91K, rent takes 32.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,700/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 Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,800/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 Colorado?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $91K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Colorado pays $91K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Colorado?
The median is $91,290 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,350, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $124,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,716/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 32.1% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $88,024 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.