Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,810 a year or less, while the top 10% make $100,230 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Phoenix earn between $65,810 and $100,230.
- $66K10th
- $66K25th
- $97KMedian
- $100K75th
- $100K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,360 | $7,280 | $42.00 |
| Median | $96,670 | $8,056 | $46.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,810 | $5,484 | $31.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,230 | $8,352 | $48.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $87,360, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $68,498 a year, or $5,708 a month and $2,635 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $87,360 buys what about $84,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Riverside, CA$105,560
- Las Vegas, NV$94,300
- San Diego, CA$117,610
- Albuquerque, NM$60,670
- Los Angeles, CA$130,260
- Salt Lake City, UT$100,620
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 Phoenix: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Phoenix?
$42.00 an hour on average, and $46.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,810 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,810, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $68,498 a year ($5,708 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,360.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($119,960).
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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.9%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.48, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.48).
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