Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT is $101,730/year ($48.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.87), that's roughly $100,853 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,241/month, or 19.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Salt Lake City-Murray’s Regional Price Parity (100.87). 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 Salt Lake City-Murray
Special effects artists and animators pay in Salt Lake City-Murray tracks closely to the national median, $102K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,241/month, 19.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.87) 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 Salt Lake City-Murray, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas | $87K | $87K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $97K | $94K |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $91K | , |
| Reno | $105K | $104K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $127K 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 Salt Lake City-Murray numbers change.
Related careers in Arts & Media
Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Salt Lake City-Murray?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 19.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,241/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special effects artists and animators in Salt Lake City-Murray?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,252/month. At HUD’s $1,241/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $102K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Salt Lake City-Murray compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Salt Lake City-Murray pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.87), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Salt Lake City-Murray, UT?
The median is $101,730 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,540, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $164,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Salt Lake City-Murray?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,269/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,241/month, which eats 19.8% 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 Salt Lake City-Murray?
Salt Lake City-Murray has a Regional Price Parity of 100.87 (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 $100,853 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.