SOC 27-1014 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Effects Artists and Animators — Illinois
Illinois · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois is $81,180 a year, trailing the national median of $102,030 by 20.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Illinois is $81,180 a year, trailing the national median of $102,030 by 20.4%. Half of workers earn between $67,230 and $108,640. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $60,760 and the ninetieth at $136,710.
The area has 630 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.81 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 31 states with published data for this occupation, Illinois ranks 15th by median wage. Chicago leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $83,200. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 215th of 747 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,760 | −40.4% |
| 25th | $67,230 | −34.1% |
| Median (50th) | $81,180 | −20.4% |
| 75th | $108,640 | +6.5% |
| 90th | $136,710 | +34.0% |
| Mean | $92,680 | −9.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Illinois
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $83,200 | 550 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Illinois sit close to the national average, so $81,180 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$81,180as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$81,180US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $81,180 a year, 20.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,760 to $136,710 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 630 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 15th of 31 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chicago, at $83,200.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in Illinois?
The median annual wage is $81,180, or $39.03 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 Illinois is 20.4% 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 Illinois earns more than $136,710 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,760 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 Chicago, at $83,200 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 630 jobs in this occupation in Illinois. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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