Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Denver
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,580 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Denver earn between $79,920 and $105,120.
- $67K10th
- $80K25th
- $91KMedian
- $105K75th
- $130K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,660 | $7,972 | $45.99 |
| Median | $91,290 | $7,608 | $43.89 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,920 | $6,660 | $38.42 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,120 | $8,760 | $50.54 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($93,080) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | $95,660 | $91,290 | $67,310 | $129,580 | 140 |
| Colorado | $93,080 | $91,290 | $57,350 | $124,990 | 210 |
| 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 Denver
On the average salary of $95,660, a single filer in Denver takes home about $72,626 a year, or $6,052 a month and $2,793 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Denver a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $95,660 buys what about $90,431 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 6.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in nearby metro areas
- Albuquerque, NM$60,670
- Salt Lake City, UT$100,620
- Omaha, NE$56,510
- Kansas City, MO$73,620
- Phoenix, AZ$87,360
- 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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Denver: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Denver?
$45.99 an hour on average, and $43.89 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Denver?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Denver?
About $72,626 a year ($6,052 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,660. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Denver than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.