Special Effects Artists and Animators salary
in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
- Middle 50%
- $105,050–$168,090
- vs U.S. median
- +34%
- Metro rank
- #2 of 10
Special Effects Artists and Animators in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro earn a median of $136,770 a year, based on BLS estimates for 1,440 jobs (May 2025). That is 34% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 5% above the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #2 of 10 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE1,440 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in San Francisco
1 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic Arts | $149,500 | 5 |
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in other CA metros
2 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $156,950 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,590 |
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Questions
What is the average Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $136,770 a year (May 2025). Half of the 1,440 jobs pay between $105,050 and $168,090. The 10th percentile is $86,370 and the 90th is $205,810.
Is San Francisco a high-paying metro for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
That is 34% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 5% above the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #2 of 10 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Special Effects Artists and Animators make an hour in San Francisco?
About $65.75 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $136,770 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $50.50–$80.81 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Special Effects Artists and Animators the most in San Francisco?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Electronic Arts ($149,500). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.