How Much Does a VFX Artist Make: A Comprehensive Salary Guide

Are you wondering how much a VFX (visual effects) artist makes in a year? 

Then you’ve landed in the right place. 

In this post, I’ll share all you need to know about VFX artist salaries. 

We’ll look at positions at every level of the industry, from runners to supervisors. Plus, we’ll discuss the various factors that impact how much you can earn.

Ready to get started? Let’s jump in. 

What does a VFX artist earn? 

So, how much do VFX artists earn? 

There’s a lot that goes into answering that question. After all, a VFX artist salary depends on several factors, including where you’re working and the specific skills you bring to the table. 

We’ll get into all of that later on. But first, let’s take a look at the big picture.  

According to Glassdoor, the total pay range for VFX artists is between $83,000 and $153,000 a year. Meanwhile, the average salary is $87,525. That’s $7,294 a month — or around $42 hourly. 

Of course, some artists top that range, especially in the highest-level positions. 

In the coming years, we can expect to see pay increases for VFX artists. That’s because VFX is a growing, dynamic industry.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry for special effects artists and animators is expected to grow by an additional 4% between 2023 and 2033. That translates to around 6,700 openings for related jobs every year. 

So, as you can see, it’s an excellent time to embark on your VFX journey.

Next up: what you can expect to make at the start.  

Entry-level VFX artist salaries 

If you’re just beginning in the VFX field, you’ll want to get your foot in the door at a VFX studio. One way to do that is to look for a job as a VFX runner or production assistant. 

As a VFX runner, you’ll be the go-to person for help in the studio. You’ll assist colleagues with a wide range of tasks, including everything from getting coffee to answering phone calls or updating databases. 

It may not be the most exciting job on the team, but there’s no better way to get exposed to the creative process and build professional connections in the field. Plus, you typically don’t need previous experience with 3D software to apply. 

So what can you expect to make as a runner? The average salary is around $16 an hour.

Alternatively, if you do have basic experience with VFX, you might qualify for a VFX internship. 

Internships tend to be hard to find and very competitive, especially at the top VFX studios. That’s why I recommend polishing your demo reel or portfolio before you start applying. 

VFX interns typically make between $43,000 and $77,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.

Junior VFX artist salaries 

Once you’ve got some solid experience in the VFX field — whether that’s from an entry-level position or an educational program — it’s time to consider junior roles. 

As a junior VFX artist, you’ll generally assist the senior VFX artists by creating and preparing elements for use in the final shots.  

Your tasks might include:

• Creating mattes
• Removing erroneous objects in live footage
• Producing simple composites
• Creating environmental and atmospheric effects
• Working with premade builds

To apply for junior positions, you’ll need to be reasonably confident using industry-standard software like Adobe After Effects, Maya, Houdini, Nuke, and others. Your demo reel should also be in top shape.

Junior VFX artists have an average salary of $58,462 per year, according to Glassdoor. 

Mid-level VFX artist salaries 

Making the jump from a junior to a mid-level VFX role can be tough, so don’t expect a promotion of this sort overnight. It can take several years to build up the necessary experience, connections, and confidence. 

So what does the role involve?

Mid-level artists are often tasked with working on key shots, large-scale effects, and interactions between characters and objects. You might also be tasked with mentoring newer, less experienced members of the team. 

That means you’ll need solid problem-solving and communication skills, a good understanding of VFX, and familiarity with the VFX pipeline at your studio. 

At this mid-level stage, you’ll decide whether to be a VFX specialist or a generalist. 

Specialists develop skills in one VFX discipline, such as texturing or modeling. Meanwhile, generalists develop a much broader skill set that covers tasks like modeling, sculpting, lighting, and rendering. 

According to Glassdoor, FX specialists make between $63,000 and $118,000 per year, with an average salary of $84,450.

On the other hand, it’s estimated that CG generalists make between $69,000 and $126,000 per year base pay, with an average salary of $92,500.

Senior-level VFX artist salaries 

Let’s now discuss positions at the highest levels of the VFX field. 

First off, at the top of the artistic production ladder, you’ll find senior VFX artists. As a senior artist, you’ll take on the most important and challenging tasks — and fix any mistakes made by others on the team.

The average salary for a senior artist is $115,000.

There are also VFX compositors, whose job it is to combine various digital inputs — such as live-action footage, CG images, and matte paintings — into the final, cohesive shot. 

Compositors make an average of $132,250 per year in the US. 

But if a management position is your ultimate goal, you may want to consider becoming a VFX producer or supervisor. 

As a producer, you’ll organize and then manage a full VFX team, taking the lead on things like schedules, budgets, and other organizational tasks. 

VFX producers in the US can expect to earn an average of $147,000 per year. 

Finally, supervisors oversee the whole VFX pipeline for a given project, all the way from pre-production through to post. They make crucial decisions on behalf of the FX studio, working directly with the producers of the movie, series, or game.

VFX supervisors typically earn around $180,000 per year. 

So, those are the primary positions in the VFX world. But where’s the best place to find a VFX job — and where is the pay highest? We’ll cover that next.

Best locations for VFX artists 

As you might expect, average VFX artist salaries vary widely depending on your location. 

For example, the average salary in New York City, the highest-paying city in the US for VFX artists, is $146,605. But in the second-highest-paying city, Arlington, TX, the average drops quite significantly, to $109,702. 

Of course, the living expenses in such places can vary just as widely, so you’ve got to keep that in mind when assessing your options. 

If we zoom out a bit to the state level, the top 10 highest-paying states for VFX artists are: 

1. Michigan
2. New York
3. New Mexico
4. Illinois
5. New Jersey
6. Oklahoma
7. Arkansas
8. Vermont
9. New Hampshire
10. Iowa

So far, we’ve only covered salaries in the United States. That’s because the US is home to the biggest VFX industry in the world, with more than 170 studios. 

But that certainly doesn’t mean it’s the only place to look for a VFX job. 

The largest VFX industries are found in the following countries:

1. United States
2. India
3. Canada
4. United Kingdom
5. Australia
6. New Zealand
7. Germany
8. China
9. Spain
10. France

In particular, the European market is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, with emerging VFX hubs in cities like Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Munich, and Berlin. 

The Asian VFX industry is also seeing a similar trend, especially in South Korea, which is the target of major investments from platforms like Disney+ and Amazon Prime.  

What factors influence VFX artist salaries? 

When it comes to the factors that affect a VFX artist salary, there’s a lot to consider. 

We already mentioned the significance of location in the previous section. But beyond that, here are some additional factors at play: 

1. Reputation: Artists with particularly impressive or well-known portfolios can often negotiate higher pay. 
2. Expertise: The more experience you have, and the more specialized your skillset, the more likely you’ll earn more. Similarly, the more technical the position, the more it pays. 
3. Industry: VFX artists span various industries, with some (like blockbuster films) paying much higher salaries than others (like advertising). 
4. Company: Bigger companies usually have bigger budgets — and that often translates into higher salaries. Some of the top-paying companies for VFX artists include Google, Workday, Intel, and Epic Games. 

Career growth and salary progression in VFX 

With all that in mind, how quickly can you expect to see your salary increase while working in the VFX field? 

As mentioned earlier, you may need to start out with a relatively low salary as a runner or intern. But finding any job in the industry is a crucial first step, and it’ll put you on track for better (and higher-paid) positions down the line. 

Many runners and interns get promoted to junior artists within the first six months to a year. After that, it can take another one to three years to get promoted to mid-level artist, and another three to seven to reach senior levels. 

That said, progression in this industry depends more on your abilities than the number of years you’ve been involved. 

To move up as quickly as possible, focus on:

• Networking: Attend workshops, conferences, and seminars to meet and connect with others in the industry. This is a great way to learn of new opportunities. 
• Technical skills: VFX technology develops quickly, and you’ve got to stay aware of the latest trends. You can do that through online courses as well as exchanging ideas through forums, blogs, and video-sharing sites. 
• Your demo: These days, companies aren’t only looking for qualifications — they also want to see a high-quality demo reel. 

To get a better idea of the VFX career trajectory, take a look at the Salty Animators spreadsheet. In it, anonymous VFX artists from around the world share information about their salaries, experience, and education levels.

FAQs: VFX artist salary 

Do VFX artists get paid well?

VFX artists can earn an excellent salary, but it often depends on factors like location, company, seniority, and your specific skill set. Experienced artists are likely to earn in the high five-figure range, and those in senior positions often surpass the six-figure mark.  

It’s also common for VFX artists to supplement their income with freelance work, for which they typically charge between $25 and $100 an hour. 

Is being a VFX artist a good career?

A career in VFX means using a mix of your technical and creative skills to complete a variety of rewarding, hands-on projects. 

As a VFX artist, you also play a crucial role in the production at hand — and that makes you valuable, especially as you gain more experience and expertise.  

Lastly, VFX is one of the best career options within the broader art industry. VFX artists tend to make more, on average, than 3D artists, concept artists, and graphic designers. 

Is it hard to become a VFX artist?

VFX requires a unique set of skills, including creativity and familiarity with the latest graphics software. You’ll also need to be comfortable solving problems and working in a team. 

Although many VFX artists have university degrees in creative fields or the sciences, a degree isn’t essential. There are numerous affordable, online VFX courses where you can learn the same skills directly from experts.  

Next steps

So, there you have it! That’s all you need to know about VFX artist salaries.

As you can see, VFX artists are well-paid — but the competition can be fierce. That’s why you’ve got to invest in developing your skills and an impressive demo reel. 

Luckily, our flexible online courses will help you do just that, regardless of whether you’re starting from square one or already working in this unique, dynamic field. 

Check them out now!

Read More:

VFX and Animation: What Are the Key Differences? 

The Best VFX Schools

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