Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in St. Louis, MO-IL is $71,440/year ($34.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $95K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.09), that's roughly $75,129 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,218/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in St. Louis?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by St. Louis’s Regional Price Parity (95.09). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, St. Louis, MO-IL
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $95K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $128K | +29% | 7,690 |
| New Jersey | $124K | +25% | 160 |
| Oregon | $109K | +9% | 470 |
| New York | $102K | +2% | 1,820 |
| Texas | $89K | -11% | N/A |
| Nevada | $86K | -14% | 420 |
| Ohio | $84K | -16% | 290 |
| Kansas | $83K | -17% | N/A |
| Maryland | $82K | -18% | 370 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -18% | N/A |
| Michigan | $81K | -19% | 330 |
| Virginia | $79K | -21% | 260 |
| Georgia | $79K | -21% | 860 |
| Louisiana | $77K | -23% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $77K | -23% | 270 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | -24% | N/A |
| Illinois | $75K | -25% | N/A |
| Florida | $74K | -26% | 1,430 |
| Missouri | $72K | -28% | 100 |
| Arizona | $68K | -32% | N/A |
| Alabama | $66K | -34% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $65K | -35% | 250 |
| Utah | $63K | -37% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | -38% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $62K | -38% | 50 |
| Iowa | $61K | -39% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -39% | 200 |
| Indiana | $56K | -44% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $56K | -44% | 160 |
| West Virginia | $53K | -46% | 50 |
| Nebraska | $53K | -47% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -50% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 32 states
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 St. Louis numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make in St. Louis, MO-IL?
The median is $71,440 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,220, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $95,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in St. Louis?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,669/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,218/month, which eats 26.1% 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 St. Louis?
St. Louis has a Regional Price Parity of 95.09 (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 $75,129 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.