Highest-paying cities for special effects artists and animators
San Jose, CA leads at $156,950 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $156,950 | $120,950–$188,410 |
| San Francisco, CA | $136,770 | $105,050–$168,090 |
| Seattle, WA | $134,120 | $103,030–$178,970 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,590 | $93,230–$162,690 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,880 | $87,900–$147,880 |
| San Diego, CA | $118,750 | $85,210–$146,170 |
| Reno, NV | $105,240 | $80,400–$119,030 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $101,730 | $73,840–$126,770 |
| New York, NY | $96,760 | $75,560–$134,740 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $96,670 | $65,810–$100,230 |
| Riverside, CA | $95,420 | $78,940–$130,920 |
| Washington, DC | $92,760 | $78,360–$119,760 |
| Denver, CO | $91,290 | $79,920–$105,120 |
| Orlando, FL | $91,150 | $81,730–$104,410 |
| Baltimore, MD | $90,050 | $66,440–$97,810 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $87,300 | $77,400–$105,510 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $83,530 | $75,340–$84,800 |
| Chicago, IL | $83,200 | $65,500–$109,990 |
| Raleigh, NC | $79,360 | $65,960–$91,790 |
| Huntsville, AL | $77,640 | $77,630–$100,900 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $76,770 | $59,900–$93,930 |
| Richmond, VA | $76,380 | $57,780–$110,150 |
| Atlanta, GA | $76,110 | $58,470–$96,200 |
| St. Louis, MO | $75,820 | $63,950–$81,180 |
| Miami, FL | $74,520 | $71,630–$104,900 |
| Tampa, FL | $74,140 | $74,140–$81,330 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $67,710 | $65,250–$69,460 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $54,000 | $54,000–$54,010 |
| Omaha, NE | $53,280 | $50,830–$61,060 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $50,960 | $48,530–$60,750 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.