Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is $109,320/year ($52.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $125K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $112,043 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $109K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Durham-Chapel Hill’s Regional Price Parity (97.57). 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 Durham-Chapel Hill
Special effects artists and animators pay in Durham-Chapel Hill tracks closely to the national median, $109K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,711/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.57) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special effects artists and animators in metros near Durham-Chapel Hill, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $92K | $95K |
| Raleigh-Cary | $79K | $81K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $78K | $80K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $76K | $76K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $125K 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 Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,711/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special effects artists and animators in Durham-Chapel Hill?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,469/month. At HUD’s $1,711/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $109K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Durham-Chapel Hill pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $109,320 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,820, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $124,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,698/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month, which eats 25.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a special effects artists and animators salary go in Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special effects artists and animators salary is worth about $112,043 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.