Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,410 a year or less, while the top 10% make $138,210 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Washington earn between $78,360 and $119,760.
- $55K10th
- $78K25th
- $93KMedian
- $120K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $97,630 | $8,136 | $46.94 |
| Median | $92,760 | $7,730 | $44.60 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,360 | $6,530 | $37.67 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $119,760 | $9,980 | $57.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $97,630, a single filer in Washington takes home about $72,183 a year, or $6,015 a month and $2,776 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $73,930 | $6,161 |
| Working in MD | $73,087 | $6,091 |
| Working in VA | $72,713 | $6,059 |
| Working in DC | $72,183 | $6,015 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $97,630 buys what about $89,664 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$87,660
- Richmond, VA$82,000
- Philadelphia, PA$82,110
- Virginia Beach, VA$74,610
- Pittsburgh, PA$74,000
- Durham, NC$99,130
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 Washington: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Washington?
$46.94 an hour on average, and $44.60 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,410 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,360, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Washington?
About $72,183 a year ($6,015 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $97,630.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 19% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.8%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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