Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $79,360/year ($38.15/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $124K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $80,848 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month, about 32.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $79K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Raleigh-Cary
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Raleigh-Cary runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $102K. Rent runs $1,750/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) 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 Raleigh-Cary, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $92K | $95K |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $109K | $112K |
| 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, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $124K or more, a $73K 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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 34.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/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 Raleigh-Cary?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,091/month. At HUD’s $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 57% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $79K here vs. $102K nationally.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Raleigh-Cary pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $79,360 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,520, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $124,230. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,054/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 34.6% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $80,848 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.