Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Baltimore
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,100 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,650 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Baltimore earn between $66,440 and $97,810.
- $54K10th
- $66K25th
- $90KMedian
- $98K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $87,660 | $7,305 | $42.14 |
| Median | $90,050 | $7,504 | $43.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $66,440 | $5,537 | $31.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,810 | $8,151 | $47.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Baltimore vs. Maryland and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Baltimore earn 5% more than the Maryland average ($83,310) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $87,660 | $90,050 | $54,100 | $123,650 | 90 |
| Maryland | $83,310 | $85,830 | $52,710 | $110,750 | 170 |
| 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 Baltimore
On the average salary of $87,660, a single filer in Baltimore takes home about $66,547 a year, or $5,546 a month and $2,559 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 (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Is Baltimore a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Baltimore area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.5), so the average $87,660 buys what about $83,896 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Baltimore ($59,070). A typical home costs $405,877, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Washington, DC$97,630
- Philadelphia, PA$82,110
- Richmond, VA$82,000
- Virginia Beach, VA$74,610
- New York, NY$109,310
- Pittsburgh, PA$74,000
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 Baltimore: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Baltimore?
$42.15 an hour on average, and $43.30 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Baltimore?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,100 a year and the 25th percentile is $66,440, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Baltimore?
About $66,547 a year ($5,546 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $87,660. Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Baltimore 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (12580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.2%.
- 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 (2025 rules). Maryland's county income tax (2.25%–3.30%, charged in every county) is not included, so real take-home pay is lower.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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