Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Minnesota is $64,990/year ($31.24/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $70,184 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,384/month, about 32.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Minnesota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $65K get you in Minnesota?
About special effects artists and animators
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Minnesota runs about 36% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track special effects artists and animators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 32.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,724/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay runs 36% below the national median — $65K here vs. $102K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Minnesota pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -36%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $70K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Minnesota?
The median is $64,990 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,070, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $77,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,260/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 32.5% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $70,184 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.