Special Effects Artists and Animators · Illinois

Special Effects Artists and Animators Salary in Illinois

Special Effects Artists and Animators in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $81,180 —20.4% below the national median of $102,030. That ranks IL #15 of 31 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$81,180
Median hourly
$39.03
Entry level (P10)
$60,760
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$136,710
90th percentile
Employment
630
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-20.4%
U.S. $102,030

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$60,760
$67,230
$81,180
$108,640
$60,760$81,180$136,710
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $81,180.

Employment is only 0.81× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for special effects artists and animators

All 31 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Washington$133,480$64.171,1302.48
2California$130,540$62.767,4103.17
3Nevada$97,350$46.803701.84
4New York$96,770$46.521,5401.24
5Colorado$91,290$43.892100.56
6Arizona$89,650$43.101900.45
7North Carolina$88,350$42.483700.58
8Utah$88,210$42.413201.44
9Michigan$86,630$41.652300.40
10Florida$85,870$41.291,5301.20

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

OccupationIllinois medianU.S. median
Public Relations Specialists$76,380$74,750
Coaches and Scouts$49,120$47,320
Graphic Designers$62,560$62,960
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$40,270$39,390
Producers and Directors$81,080$90,360
Editors$76,060$77,920

Frequently asked questions

How much do special effects artists and animators make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for special effects artists and animators in Illinois is $81,180, or $39.03 per hour. That is 20.4% below the national median of $102,030.

What is the entry-level special effects artists and animators salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $60,760 per year ($29.21/hour). The 25th percentile is $67,230.

How many people work as special effects artists and animators in Illinois?

About 630 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for special effects artists and animators?

Illinois ranks #15 of 31 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.81x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays special effects artists and animators the most?

Washington has the highest median wage at $133,480 per year, followed by California ($130,540) and Nevada ($97,350).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes