Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Austin
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,910 a year or less, while the top 10% make $150,000 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Austin earn between $63,560 and $127,080.
- $62K10th
- $64K25th
- $83KMedian
- $127K75th
- $150K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $101,170 | $8,431 | $48.64 |
| Median | $82,570 | $6,881 | $39.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,560 | $5,297 | $30.56 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $127,080 | $10,590 | $61.10 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Austin vs. Texas and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Austin earn 7% more than the Texas average ($94,660) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin | $101,170 | $82,570 | $61,910 | $150,000 | n/a |
| Texas | $94,660 | $78,930 | $56,020 | $150,000 | n/a |
| 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 Austin
On the average salary of $101,170, a single filer in Austin takes home about $80,003 a year, or $6,667 a month and $3,077 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Austin a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Austin area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.1), so the average $101,170 buys what about $103,165 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Austin ($56,950). A typical home costs $428,524, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other Texas cities
Austin ranks 1st of 3 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Austin: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Austin?
$48.64 an hour on average, and $39.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Austin?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,910 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Austin?
About $80,003 a year ($6,667 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $101,170. Texas has no state income tax.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Austin than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% 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 Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (12420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.2%.
- 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.
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