Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $105,370 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Boston earn between $63,090 and $98,370.
- $58K10th
- $63K25th
- $81KMedian
- $98K75th
- $105K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $83,580 | $6,965 | $40.18 |
| Median | $80,640 | $6,720 | $38.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,090 | $5,258 | $30.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $98,370 | $8,198 | $47.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($84,280) and 26% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $83,580 | $80,640 | $57,900 | $105,370 | n/a |
| Massachusetts | $84,280 | $80,640 | $57,900 | $109,820 | n/a |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $83,580, a single filer in Boston takes home about $63,770 a year, or $5,314 a month and $2,453 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $67,629 | $5,636 |
| Working in MA | $63,770 | $5,314 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $83,580 buys what about $77,199 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 8.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 2nd of 2 Massachusetts metro areas for this job; Worcester pays the most ($86,260).
- Worcester$86,260
- Boston$83,580
All Special Effects Artists and Animators salaries in Massachusetts
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 Boston: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Boston?
$40.18 an hour on average, and $38.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Boston?
About $63,770 a year ($5,314 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $83,580. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.2%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
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