Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary
The median pay for a special effects artists and animators in Tennessee is $83,080/year ($39.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $170K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $92,537 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $83K get you in Tennessee?
About special effects artists and animators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for special effects artists and animators in Tennessee runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $102K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 21.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for special effects artists and animatorss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level special effects artists and animators (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $170K or more, a $110K 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 Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a special effects artists and animator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 21.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for special effects artists and animators in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special effects artists and animators typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,619/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $83K here vs. $102K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for special effects artists and animators?
Tennessee pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do special effects artists and animators make in Tennessee?
The median is $83,080 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,320, and experienced special effects artists and animators can clear $170,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,569/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21.8% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $92,537 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.