SOC 27-1014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Effects Artists and Animators — Dallas
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX is $79,390 a year, trailing the national median of $102,030 by 22.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Dallas, TX is $79,390 a year, trailing the national median of $102,030 by 22.2%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,670 and $125,260. The lowest tenth earn under $57,480, while the highest tenth earn more than $183,190.
Within the state, Austin records the highest median at $82,570. Of the 713 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 209th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $57,480 | −43.7% |
| 25th | $62,670 | −38.6% |
| Median (50th) | $79,390 | −22.2% |
| 75th | $125,260 | +22.8% |
| 90th | $183,190 | +79.5% |
| Mean | $97,490 | −4.4% |
Other metro areas in Texas
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Dallas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $79,390 goes as far as $81,761 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 19.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$79,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,761US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $79,390 a year, 22.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $57,480 to $183,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Austin, at $82,570.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Dallas, TX?
The median annual wage is $79,390, or $38.17 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $102,030, so pay in Dallas, TX is 22.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Dallas, TX earns more than $183,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $57,480 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Austin, at $82,570 per year.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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