Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Huntsville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,550 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,910 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Huntsville earn between $77,630 and $100,900.
- $66K10th
- $78K25th
- $78KMedian
- $101K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,790 | $7,316 | $42.21 |
| Median | $77,640 | $6,470 | $37.33 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,630 | $6,469 | $37.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,900 | $8,408 | $48.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Huntsville vs. Alabama and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Huntsville earn 22% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -24% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $87,790 | $77,640 | $65,550 | $100,910 | 40 |
| United States | $112,870 | $102,030 | $58,600 | $177,110 | 19,970 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary after taxes in Huntsville
On the average salary of $87,790, a single filer in Huntsville takes home about $66,965 a year, or $5,580 a month and $2,576 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Is Huntsville a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Huntsville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $87,790 buys what about $94,325 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Huntsville ($51,740). A typical home costs $316,645, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Atlanta, GA$76,910
- Louisville, KY$55,380
- Cincinnati, OH$65,350
- Charlotte, NC$93,400
- St. Louis, MO$78,940
- Durham, NC$99,130
Highest-paying cities for special effects artists and animators
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($161,540).
- San Jose, CA$161,540
- San Francisco, CA$145,960
- Seattle, WA$143,790
- Los Angeles, CA$130,260
- Sacramento, CA$120,760
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Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Huntsville: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Huntsville?
$42.21 an hour on average, and $37.33 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Huntsville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,550 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Huntsville?
About $66,965 a year ($5,580 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,790. City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Huntsville than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($112,870).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 27-1014; area Huntsville, AL (26620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). City occupational taxes (for example in Birmingham and Gadsden) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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