Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in St. Louis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,580 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in St. Louis earn between $63,950 and $81,180.
- $61K10th
- $64K25th
- $76KMedian
- $81K75th
- $102K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $78,940 | $6,578 | $37.95 |
| Median | $75,820 | $6,318 | $36.45 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,950 | $5,329 | $30.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $81,180 | $6,765 | $39.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in St. Louis vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in St. Louis earn 6% more than the Missouri average ($74,600) and 30% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $78,940 | $75,820 | $60,670 | $101,580 | 50 |
| Missouri | $74,600 | $65,470 | $48,020 | $103,740 | 80 |
| 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 St. Louis
On the average salary of $78,940, a single filer in St. Louis takes home about $60,802 a year, or $5,067 a month and $2,339 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in MO | $60,802 | $5,067 |
| Working in IL | $60,598 | $5,050 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is St. Louis a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the St. Louis area are 5% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.1), so the average $78,940 buys what about $83,018 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in St. Louis ($49,990). A typical home costs $276,878, or 3.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other Missouri cities
St. Louis ranks 1st of 2 Missouri metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- St. Louis$78,940
- Kansas City$73,620
All Special Effects Artists and Animators salaries in Missouri
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 St. Louis: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in St. Louis?
$37.95 an hour on average, and $36.45 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in St. Louis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in St. Louis?
About $60,802 a year ($5,067 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $78,940. Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in St. Louis than elsewhere?
The average here is 30% 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 St. Louis, MO-IL (41180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- 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). Includes St. Louis's local income tax (1%); the 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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