RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2025

Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Texas

Steadymarket
-25%offers
+5.3%wages
heat44/100

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated June 12, 2026
Last refreshed: Jun 12, 2026

Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →

Median annual$78,930
Mean annual$94,660
Range (10th to 90th)$56,020 to $150,000
Texas employment
State vs national-21.8% vs national

Salary distribution

Where Texas special effects artists and animators fall on the wage curve.

Annual wage distribution

Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)

10TH$56,02025TH$62,460MEDIAN$78,93075TH$121,96090TH$150,000

The middle 50% of workers earn between $62,460 and $121,960, with a median of $78,930.

Real disclosed salaries

Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 15 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $117,900. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry2$59,135
Level II — qualified6$102,291
Level III — experienced1$117,900
Level IV — fully competent6$146,033

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INCEXPERT CONCEPT ARTIST4$136,033
Electronic Arts - Tiburon, a Florida CorporationDevelopment Manager3$117,900
Electronic Arts Inc.Technical Artist I2$102,291
ZENIMAX MEDIA INCAnimator2$79,630
Bert the Spider LLCPatent Illustrator1$59,010
Meta Platforms, IncPrincipal Technical Animator1$205,385
UWorld, LLCMedical Illustrator1$72,976
Yarewin LLCSFDC UX Designer1$145,600

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Development Manager at Electronic Arts - Tiburon, a Florida Corporation
    $117,900
    AustinWage Level IIIDecided Jan 29, 2026I-200-26022-582881
  • SFDC UX Designer at Yarewin LLC
    $145,600
    McKinneyWage Level IVDecided Jan 29, 2026I-200-26022-581759
  • Patent Illustrator at Bert the Spider LLC
    $59,010
    Flower MoundWage Level IDecided Sep 26, 2025I-200-25262-322978
  • Animator at ZENIMAX MEDIA INC
    $100,000
    RichardsonWage Level IIDecided Aug 13, 2025I-202-25218-225023
  • Senior 3D Artist at ZENIMAX MEDIA INC
    $59,259
    DallasWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-051921
  • Technical Artist I at Electronic Arts Inc.
    $101,115
    AustinWage Level IIDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052372
  • SENIOR ENVIORNMENT ARTIST at ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC
    $120,510
    AUSTINWage Level IVDecided May 22, 2025I-200-25135-981371
  • SENIOR ANIMATOR at ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC
    $125,600
    AUSTINWage Level IVDecided May 21, 2025I-200-25135-978005

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.

Where do you stand?

Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.

Adding for:Special Effects Artists and Animators·Texas
What do you make?

Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.

By seniority

Special Effects Artists and Animators pay by experience level in Texas

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.

Pay by industry

Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas, by industry

Median offered wage across 15 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Technology and software leads with a median of $117,900.

IndustryLargest employerFilingsMedian offer
Technology and softwareACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC13$117,900
EducationUWorld, LLC1$72,976
Professional servicesBert the Spider LLC1$59,010

Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Texas over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.

Median annual wage, Texas2023 to 2025
$86,3602023$88,6202024$78,9302025

Typical entry

  • Education

    Bachelor's degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge

    5.0 / 5
  • English Language

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Design

    Knowledge

    4.2 / 5
  • Oral Comprehension

    Ability

    4.1 / 5
  • Communications and Media

    Knowledge

    4.1 / 5
  • Written Comprehension

    Ability

    4.0 / 5
  • Oral Expression

    Ability

    4.0 / 5
  • Visualization

    Ability

    4.0 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.

  2. 02

    Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.

  3. 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.

  4. 04

    Implement and maintain configuration control systems.

  5. 05

    Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.

  6. 06

    Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.

  7. 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.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

Sponsored

Build the skills employers list for Special Effects Artists and Animators

Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.

Explore courses

Top metros in Texas

Metro-level salary data for special effects artists and animators in major Texas metropolitan areas.

Compare Special Effects Artists and Animators pay across nearby states

Side-by-side

Considering a move? Compare Texas with another state

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas?
According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas is $78,930.
How does Texas compare to the national median for Special Effects Artists and Animators?
The Texas median is -21.8% versus the BLS national figure of $100,965.
What is the salary range for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Texas?
BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $56,020 and the 90th-percentile at $150,000, 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.
Disclaimer

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.