Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $210,350 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Seattle earn between $103,030 and $178,970.
- $65K10th
- $103K25th
- $134KMedian
- $179K75th
- $210K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $143,790 | $11,982 | $69.13 |
| Median | $134,120 | $11,177 | $64.48 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,030 | $8,586 | $49.53 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $178,970 | $14,914 | $86.04 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($141,450) and 27% more than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is +31% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $143,790 | $134,120 | $65,380 | $210,350 | 1,030 |
| Washington | $141,450 | $133,480 | $65,270 | $209,400 | 1,130 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $143,790, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $109,546 a year, or $9,129 a month and $4,213 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $143,790 buys what about $129,386 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Reno, NV$106,380
- Sacramento, CA$120,760
- Salt Lake City, UT$100,620
- San Francisco, CA$145,960
- San Jose, CA$161,540
- Las Vegas, NV$94,300
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 Seattle: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Seattle?
$69.13 an hour on average, and $64.48 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Seattle?
About $109,546 a year ($9,129 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $143,790. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 27% more 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.84, this job is 3.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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