Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $112,640 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Philadelphia earn between $59,900 and $93,930.
- $60K10th
- $60K25th
- $77KMedian
- $94K75th
- $113K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,110 | $6,842 | $39.48 |
| Median | $76,770 | $6,398 | $36.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $59,900 | $4,992 | $28.80 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,930 | $7,828 | $45.16 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Philadelphia earn 10% more than the Pennsylvania average ($74,780) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $82,110 | $76,770 | $59,880 | $112,640 | 100 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,780 | $71,760 | $49,680 | $103,940 | 300 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $82,110, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $64,074 a year, or $5,339 a month and $2,464 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $64,074 | $5,339 |
| Working in NJ | $63,554 | $5,296 |
| Working in MD | $62,906 | $5,242 |
| Working in DE | $62,406 | $5,201 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $82,110 buys what about $80,065 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 1st of 2 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Philadelphia$82,110
- Pittsburgh$74,000
All Special Effects Artists and Animators salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Philadelphia?
$39.48 an hour on average, and $36.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $59,900, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $64,074 a year ($5,339 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,110. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.27, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.27).
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