Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is $95,420/year ($45.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.44), so that salary is closer to $89,647 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,201/month, about 36.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $95K actually covers in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario’s Regional Price Parity (106.44). 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
Special effects artists and animators pay in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 6% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,201/month, which is 37.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.44), so groceries and services cost more too. 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $125K | $110K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $137K | $118K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $157K | $142K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $119K | $106K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $98K 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 annually. We'll email you when Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 37.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,201/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,295/month. At HUD’s $2,201/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA?
The median is $95,420 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,550, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $162,880. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,875/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,201/month, which eats 37.5% 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 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario?
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has a Regional Price Parity of 106.44 (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 $89,647 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.