Special Effects Artists and Animators salary
in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
- Middle 50%
- $120,950–$188,410
- vs U.S. median
- +54%
- Metro rank
- #1 of 10
Special Effects Artists and Animators in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro earn a median of $156,950 a year, based on BLS estimates for 510 jobs (May 2025). That is 54% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 20% above the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #1 of 10 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE510 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 Jose
2 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | $221,927 | 8 |
| TT Commerce & Global Services | $216,250 | 8 |
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in other CA metros
2 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $136,770 |
| 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 Jose?
The BLS median is $156,950 a year (May 2025). Half of the 510 jobs pay between $120,950 and $188,410. The 10th percentile is $99,280 and the 90th is $215,680.
Is San Jose a high-paying metro for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
That is 54% above the U.S. median of $102,030 and 20% above the CA statewide median of $130,540. It ranks #1 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 Jose?
About $75.46 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $156,950 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $58.15–$90.58 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 Jose?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were Apple ($221,927), TT Commerce & Global Services ($216,250). 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.