Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,520 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,230 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Raleigh earn between $65,960 and $91,790.
- $52K10th
- $66K25th
- $79KMedian
- $92K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,060 | $6,838 | $39.45 |
| Median | $79,360 | $6,613 | $38.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,960 | $5,497 | $31.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,790 | $7,649 | $44.13 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Raleigh earn 5% less than the North Carolina average ($86,020) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $82,060 | $79,360 | $51,520 | $124,230 | 100 |
| North Carolina | $86,020 | $88,350 | $53,790 | $120,150 | 370 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $82,060, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $63,794 a year, or $5,316 a month and $2,454 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $82,060 buys what about $83,601 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 5.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 3rd of 3 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Durham pays the most ($99,130).
All Special Effects Artists and Animators salaries in North Carolina
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 Raleigh: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Raleigh?
$39.45 an hour on average, and $38.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,520 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $63,794 a year ($5,316 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,060.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.0%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.07, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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