# Special Effects Artists and Animators

> Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/special-effects-artists-and-animators
- SOC code: 27-1014.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $102,030 (10th percentile $58,600, 90th percentile $177,110)
- Projected growth: Little or no change, -0.3%
- Openings a year: 4,200
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ARC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 45 |
| Investigative (I) | 30 |
| Artistic (A) | 100 |
| Social (S) | 20 |
| Enterprising (E) | 27 |
| Conventional (C) | 36 |

## What you'd do

- Working with Computers (importance 96/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 96/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 94/100)
- Getting Information (importance 89/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 84/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 76/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 75/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 71/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 63/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Monitoring, Time Management

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, English Language, Design, Communications and Media, Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Telecommunications, Engineering and Technology, Production and Processing, Geography

## Also called

3D Animator (Three-Dimensional Animator), 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist), 3D Designer (Three-dimensional Designer), 3D Modeler (Three-Dimensional Modeler), 3D Specialist (Three-Dimensional Specialist), Animation Artist, Animation Producer, Animator, Anime Artist, Anime Designer

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Fine and Studio Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5007) (CIP 5007, 1,455 colleges)
- [Design and Applied Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5004) (CIP 5004, 1,175 colleges)
- [Computer Software and Media Applications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1108) (CIP 1108, 701 colleges)
- [Visual and Performing Arts, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5001) (CIP 5001, 571 colleges)
- [Graphic Communications](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1003) (CIP 1003, 390 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Design and Applied Arts | $91,413 | $138,588 | $21,000 |
| [DigiPen Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/digipen-institute-of-technology-819) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $66,593 | $122,375 | $27,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $95,396 | $115,839 | $19,968 |
| [Lawrence Technological University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lawrence-technological-university-michigan-1459) | Design and Applied Arts | $62,595 | $99,444 | $27,000 |
| [Wellesley College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wellesley-college-3189) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $67,236 | $98,816 | $11,875 |
| [DePaul University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/depaul-university-illinois-795) | Computer Software and Media Applications | $68,868 | $96,616 | $22,500 |
| [Worcester Polytechnic Institute](https://www.collegesref.com/college/worcester-polytechnic-institute-3303) | Computer Software and Media Applications | not reported | $95,430 | not reported |
| [University of Washington-Seattle Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-washington-seattle-main-campus-3075) | Design and Applied Arts | $51,789 | $89,193 | $15,000 |

## Related careers

- [Graphic Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/graphic-designers): $62,960 median pay
- [Film and Video Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/film-and-video-editors): $75,420 median pay
- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 median pay
- [Video Game Designers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/video-game-designers): $104,000 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Desktop Publishers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/desktop-publishers): $55,290 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.