Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Missouri
The average Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Missouri is $77,000 per year on WePayFairly's 2026 basis. The 25th-to-75th-percentile range is $61,000 to $80,500. Based on BLS state wage data, aged to 2026.
The following occupation, experience, industry and career information describes the role nationally. For Missouri pay, use the state figures above and the state salary questions below.
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
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.
Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
Top skills:Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Special Effects Artists and Animators pay by experience level
Entry level$60,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$78,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$105,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$144,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$183,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
5,000
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Special Effects Artists and Animators salary by industry
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries
5,980 workers
$120,500
Motion Picture and Video Industries
5,910 workers
$120,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
4,560 workers
$103,500
Publishing Industries
4,070 workers
$134,500
Software Publishers
3,920 workers
$137,000
Computer Systems Design and Related Services
2,020 workers
$111,000
Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries
1,170 workers
$114,000
Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services
1,010 workers
$94,500
Specialized Design Services
930 workers
$100,500
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
770 workers
$95,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $77,700 to $102,030.
+31.3% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$60,500
Early career25th percentile
$78,000
Median50th percentile
$105,500
Experienced75th percentile
$144,000
Top earners90th percentile
$183,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingJudgment and Decision Making
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
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.
Create two-dimensional and three-dimensional images depicting objects in motion or illustrating a process, using computer animation or modeling programs.
Make objects or characters appear lifelike by manipulating light, color, texture, shadow, and transparency, or manipulating static images to give the illusion of motion.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$117,000
2027$121,000
2028$125,500
2029$129,500
2030$134,500
2031$139,000
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Missouri salary questions
How much does a Special Effects Artists and Animators make in Missouri?
The average base salary for a Special Effects Artists and Animators in Missouri is $77,000 per year, or about $37.02 per hour, on WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
What is the median Special Effects Artists and Animators salary in Missouri?
The median is $68,000 per year on the same 2026 basis. The median is the middle wage in the state distribution; the average is $77,000.
What is the typical Special Effects Artists and Animators salary range in Missouri?
The 25th-to-75th-percentile range in Missouri is $61,000 to $80,500 per year on the 2026 basis. These percentiles describe the state wage distribution; individual pay varies by employer and experience.
How does Special Effects Artists and Animators pay in Missouri compare with the national average?
The Missouri average of $77,000 is $40,000 (34.2%) below the national average of $117,000. Both figures use WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
Where do these Missouri salary figures come from?
The state figures come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state data. WePayFairly applies the same compounded market movement factor used elsewhere on this page to express the published figures on a 2026 basis. They are estimates, not a guarantee of a particular offer.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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