Special Effects Artists and Animators in California. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where California special effects artists and animators fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $99,280 and $164,800, with a median of $130,540.
Special Effects Artists and Animators in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 217 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $134,742. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 46 | $92,175 |
| Level II — qualified | 68 | $120,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 33 | $150,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 58 | $179,359 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Special Effects Artists and Animators in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Inc. | Human Interface Designer | 30 | $176,717 |
| BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. | ARTIST | 17 | $123,721 |
| ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC | ARTIST I | 16 | $102,263 |
| Electronic Arts Inc. | Associate Concept Artist | 12 | $120,434 |
| Microsoft Corporation | Product Design | 10 | $152,479 |
| TT Commerce & Global Services LLC | Interactive Engineer | 10 | $216,250 |
| SNAP INC. | Sr. AR Designer, VFX (5) | 9 | $134,742 |
| BYTEDANCE INC. | Interactive Engineer | 8 | $216,250 |
| Riot Games, Inc. | Visual Design Artist | 7 | $118,000 |
| DreamWorks Animation LLC | Visual Development Artist | 6 | $112,237 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- MOTION DESIGN DIRECTOR at OMNICOM PRODUCTION LLC$182,000LOS ANGELESWage Level IVDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-706299
- Experience Visualizer at WET$102,000Sun ValleyWage Level IIDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-701011
- Senior Designer I, Visualization at Scout Motors Inc.$142,000IrvineWage Level IIIDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-696784
- UX Designer at Apple Inc.$146,800CupertinoDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-681385
- Senior Environment Artist at Electronic Arts Inc.$135,580ChatsworthWage Level IIIDecided Mar 12, 2026I-200-26064-682636
- R&D Technical Art at Apple Inc.$163,300Playa VistaWage Level IVDecided Mar 11, 2026I-200-26063-678924
- Animator at Apple Inc.$134,800Culver CityWage Level IIDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26062-676240
- Interactive Engineer at TT Commerce & Global Services LLC$230,000San JoseWage Level IVDecided Mar 10, 2026I-200-26063-678156
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Special Effects Artists and Animators pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Special Effects Artists and Animators specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 100 certified offers. The most common variant is Technical Artist at a median of $117,867.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Artist | Electronic Arts Inc. | 16 | $117,867 |
| Human Interface Designer | Apple Inc. | 16 | $176,717 |
| Product Design | Microsoft Corporation | 10 | $152,479 |
| Interactive Engineer | TT Commerce & Global Services LLC | 9 | $243,678 |
| Product Designer | BYTEDANCE INC. | 9 | $180,000 |
| Animator | Electronic Arts Inc. | 7 | $100,942 |
| Associate Concept Artist | Electronic Arts Inc. | 6 | $99,665 |
| ARTIST | ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC | 6 | $102,159 |
| ASSOCIATE ENVIRONMENT ARTIST | ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC | 6 | $99,954 |
| Visual Development Artist | DreamWorks Animation LLC | 5 | $89,752 |
| Sr. AR Designer, VFX (5) | SNAP INC. | 5 | $152,734 |
| Senior Character Artist | Naughty Dog a limited liability company | 5 | $120,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Special Effects Artists and Animators in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 217 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $134,742.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology and software | BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. | 131 | $134,742 |
| Manufacturing | Apple Inc. | 38 | $167,728 |
| Professional services | Framestore, Inc | 23 | $102,000 |
| Media and entertainment | DreamWorks Animation LLC | 18 | $100,487 |
| Education | ArtSpark Studio, LLC | 3 | $124,800 |
| Retail and wholesale | Golden Mountain International LLC | 3 | $69,680 |
| Transportation and logistics | TDY Warehousing LLC | 1 | $81,120 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 5.0 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Design
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Communications and Media
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.0 / 5
Visualization
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
- 02
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
- 03
Participate in design and production of multimedia campaigns, handling budgeting and scheduling, and assisting with such responsibilities as production coordination, background design, and progress tracking.
- 04
Implement and maintain configuration control systems.
- 05
Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.
- 06
Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
- 07
Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.
- 08
Create and install special effects as required by the script, mixing chemicals and fabricating needed parts from wood, metal, plaster, and clay.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+1.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in California
Metro-level salary data for special effects artists and animators in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$156,950
- San Francisco$136,770
- Los Angeles$124,590
- Sacramento$122,880
- San Diego$118,750
- Riverside$95,420
Compare Special Effects Artists and Animators pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare California with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in California is $130,540.
- How does California compare to the national median for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
- The California median is +29.3% versus the BLS national figure of $100,965.
- What is the salary range for Special Effects Artists and Animators in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,710 and the 90th-percentile at $206,160, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Special Effects Artists and Animators a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 1.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.