The median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $86,740 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $90,390.
Pay spans roughly $58,910 at the 10th percentile to $124,800 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $41.70 per hour. An estimated 210 people work as special effects artists and animators in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
| Median (annual) | $86,740 |
| Mean (annual) | $90,390 |
| Median (hourly) | $41.70 |
| 10th percentile | $58,910 |
| 90th percentile | $124,800 |
| Employment | 210 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.