Special Effects Artists and Animators pay range in Richmond
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $129,310 or more. The middle half of special effects artists and animators in Richmond earn between $57,780 and $110,150.
- $47K10th
- $58K25th
- $76KMedian
- $110K75th
- $129K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39.42 |
| Median | $76,380 | $6,365 | $36.72 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,780 | $4,815 | $27.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $110,150 | $9,179 | $52.96 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Richmond vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Special effects artists and animators in Richmond earn 9% less than the Virginia average ($89,750) and 27% less than the U.S. average ($112,870). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $102,030.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $82,000 | $76,380 | $47,140 | $129,310 | 30 |
| Virginia | $89,750 | $81,510 | $47,140 | $138,210 | 380 |
| 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 Richmond
On the average salary of $82,000, a single filer in Richmond takes home about $62,616 a year, or $5,218 a month and $2,408 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 (2025 rules).
Is Richmond a good place for special effects artists and animators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Richmond area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.9), so the average $82,000 buys what about $83,795 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Richmond ($51,460). A typical home costs $397,705, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in other Virginia cities
Richmond ranks 1st of 2 Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Richmond$82,000
- Virginia Beach$74,610
All Special Effects Artists and Animators salaries in Virginia
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 Richmond: questions
How much do special effects artists and animators make an hour in Richmond?
$39.43 an hour on average, and $36.72 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Richmond?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $47,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special effects artists and animators take-home pay in Richmond?
About $62,616 a year ($5,218 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,000.
Do special effects artists and animators earn more in Richmond 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 Richmond, VA (40060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.6%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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