What are the main factors that influence a 3D & VFX Artist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A 3D & VFX Artist's salary?

A 3D & VFX Artist's salary grows with experience: a CAD Drafter I (0-2 years)earns $67,699, a 3D & VFX Artist (2-4 years)earns $77,075, a CAD Drafter III (4-7 years)earns $93,323, a CAD Drafter IV (7+ years)earns $120,618, a CAD Drafter V (7-10 years)earns $141,326,

What are the highest paying states for a 3D & VFX Artist?

3D & VFX Artist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for 3D & VFX Artist roles are District of Columbia $88,042, California $87,708, Massachusetts $86,539. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of 3D & VFX Artist roles make?

Salaries for 3D & VFX Artist level roles vary by specialization: Lead Vfx Artist: $151,828; Senior 3d Artist: $93,861; Cinema 4D VFX Artist: $92,620; Lead 3D Artist: $92,506; 3d Character Artist: $91,623.

How do different companies affect a 3D & VFX Artist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for 3D & VFX Artist roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

3D & VFX Artist Salary in the United States

How much does a 3D & VFX Artist make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a 3D & VFX Artist in the United States is $79,518 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $38.

However, a 3D & VFX Artist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,915
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $73,445 to $91,241
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $67,916

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3D & VFX Artist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$91,241	$7,603	$1,755	$44
Average	$79,518	$6,626	$1,529	$38
25th Percentile	$73,445	$6,120	$1,412	$35

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Key Factors That Influence 3D & VFX Artist Salaries

A 3D & VFX Artist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects 3D & VFX Artist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 3D & VFX Artist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $67,699
Early Career (1-2 years): $77,075
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,323
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $120,618
Expert (over 8 years): $141,326

Levels	Salary
CAD Draft... Level 3D & VFX Artist	$67,699
3D & VFX ... Level 3D & VFX Artist	$77,075
CAD Draft... Level 3D & VFX Artist	$93,323
CAD Draft... Level 3D & VFX Artist	$120,618
CAD Draft... Level 3D & VFX Artist	$141,326

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What Am I Worth?

How Do 3D & VFX Artist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract 3D & VFX Artists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $88,042.
California: $87,708.
Massachusetts: $86,539.

District of Columbia $88,042

California $87,708

Massachusetts $86,539

Washington $86,221

New Jersey $86,189

Alaska $86,078

Connecticut $84,980

New York $84,535

Hawaii $83,112

Rhode Island $82,444

Maryland $81,991

Minnesota $81,370

Colorado $81,132

Illinois $81,052

Oregon $80,750

Delaware $80,527

New Hampshire $80,388

Virginia $80,074

Pennsylvania $79,160

Nevada $78,699

North Dakota $78,547

Michigan $78,309

Wisconsin $78,221

Vermont $78,047

Texas $77,561

Maine $77,530

Arizona $77,482

Ohio $77,426

Georgia $76,695

Indiana $76,329

Wyoming $76,257

Utah $76,146

Iowa $76,098

Kansas $75,717

Louisiana $75,605

North Carolina $75,566

Missouri $75,550

Florida $75,240

Montana $75,073

Nebraska $74,914

Kentucky $74,826

South Carolina $74,508

Tennessee $74,309

Idaho $74,230

New Mexico $73,649

Oklahoma $73,522

Alabama $73,053

South Dakota $72,266

Arkansas $71,836

West Virginia $71,606

Mississippi $70,914

Top Paying Cities for 3D & VFX Artists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $100,296
San Francisco: $99,197
Oakland: $97,107

San Jose, CA $100,296

San Francisco, CA $99,197

Oakland, CA $97,107

New York, NY $91,556

Paramus, NJ $90,443

Queens Village, NY $90,439

Passaic, NJ $90,363

Bergenfield, NJ $90,356

Stamford, CT $90,181

Huntington, NY $90,148

Newark, NJ $89,561

Bridgeport, CT $89,393

Vallejo, CA $89,235

New Brunswick, NJ $89,203

Petaluma, CA $89,155

Middlesex, NJ $89,004

Somerset, NJ $88,948

Santa Cruz, CA $88,845

Boston, MA $88,360

Monterey, CA $88,081

Seattle, WA $87,899

Santa Rosa, CA $87,883

Los Angeles, CA $87,859

Juneau, AK $87,652

Washington, DC $87,565

Orange, CA $87,282

Santa Ana, CA $87,072

Long Beach, CA $86,992

Anaheim, CA $86,976

Anchorage, AK $86,937

Santa Maria, CA $86,698

Everett, WA $86,682

Danbury, CT $86,402

Bremerton, WA $86,292

Tacoma, WA $86,006

New Suffolk, NY $86,005

Sacramento, CA $85,982

Santa Barbara, CA $85,895

Trenton, NJ $85,807

San Diego, CA $85,807

Brockton, MA $85,720

Fairbanks, AK $85,525

Lompoc, CA $85,322

Lowell, MA $85,258

Ventura, CA $85,243

Nashua, NH $85,227

Stockton, CA $85,219

Modesto, CA $84,639

Poughkeepsie, NY $84,464

Olympia, WA $84,313

Kennewick, WA $84,313

New Haven, CT $84,281

Lawrence, MA $83,994

Hartford, CT $83,915

Riverside, CA $83,899

New Bedford, MA $83,820

Richland, WA $83,820

Bakersfield, CA $83,708

San Bernardino, CA $83,676

New Britain, CT $83,668

Atlantic City, NJ $83,668

New London, CT $83,637

Norwich, CT $83,613

Portsmouth, NH $83,597

Boulder, CO $83,428

Portland, OR $83,319

Worcester, MA $83,311

Minneapolis, MN $83,064

Philadelphia, PA $82,953

Honolulu, HI $82,690

Saint Paul, MN $82,652

Vineland, NJ $82,635

Providence, RI $82,404

Chicago, IL $82,173

Bellingham, WA $82,078

Springfield, MA $82,014

Baltimore, MD $81,991

Chico, CA $81,792

Pittsfield, MA $81,577

Manchester, NH $81,426

Spokane, WA $81,076

Denver, CO $81,068

Albany, NY $80,694

Troy, NY $80,663

Nassau, NY $80,578

Schenectady, NY $80,496

Wilmington, DE $80,432

Burlington, VT $80,321

Salem, OR $80,289

Portland, ME $80,042

Yakima, WA $79,963

Rochester, MN $79,716

Reno, NV $79,677

Fresno, CA $79,677

Milwaukee, WI $79,605

Detroit, MI $79,526

Ann Arbor, MI $79,512

Allentown, PA $79,502

Colorado Springs, CO $79,367

Syracuse, NY $79,327

Carson City, NV $79,327

Houston, TX $79,215

Eugene, OR $79,176

Gary, IN $79,080

Springfield, OR $79,017

Bismarck, ND $79,001

Galveston, TX $78,945

Medford, OR $78,826

Fort Collins, CO $78,794

Concord, NH $78,754

Austin, TX $78,730

Mesa, AZ $78,563

Reading, PA $78,555

Phoenix, AZ $78,547

Dallas, TX $78,524

Saint Cloud, MN $78,447

Madison, WI $78,341

Utica, NY $78,126

Rochester, NY $77,999

Des Moines, IA $77,991

Raleigh, NC $77,983

Atlanta, GA $77,864

Battle Creek, MI $77,840

Salt Lake City, UT $77,816

Lancaster, PA $77,697

Harrisburg, PA $77,585

Kansas City, MO $77,506

Champaign, IL $77,490

Kansas City, KS $77,490

Fort Worth, TX $77,482

Columbus, OH $77,468

Boca Raton, FL $77,450

Pittsburgh, PA $77,418

Richmond, VA $77,387

Indianapolis, IN $77,371

Cleveland, OH $77,363

Las Vegas, NV $77,267

Cincinnati, OH $77,267

Petersburg, VA $77,148

Huntsville, AL $77,029

Lansing, MI $76,975

Lebanon, PA $76,965

Pueblo, CO $76,957

Appleton, WI $76,933

Buffalo, NY $76,901

Dayton, OH $76,878

Racine, WI $76,862

Charlotte, NC $76,854

Saint Louis, MO $76,830

York, PA $76,782

Elkhart, IN $76,782

Gastonia, NC $76,767

Billings, MT $76,748

Beaumont, TX $76,727

Lorain, OH $76,711

Benton Harbor, MI $76,695

Toledo, OH $76,679

Binghamton, NY $76,639

Rock Hill, SC $76,631

Rockford, IL $76,591

Springfield, IL $76,560

Elyria, OH $76,552

Fargo, ND $76,552

Flagstaff, AZ $76,496

Fort Lauderdale, FL $76,448

Duluth, MN $76,401

Miami, FL $76,401

Cheyenne, WY $76,345

Grand Forks, ND $76,345

Bangor, ME $76,170

Cedar Rapids, IA $76,082

Durham, NC $76,049

Louisville, KY $76,043

Grand Rapids, MI $76,027

Hialeah, FL $76,019

Casper, WY $75,908

Scranton, PA $75,812

New Orleans, LA $75,788

Virginia Beach, VA $75,780

Akron, OH $75,741

Peoria, IL $75,637

Sarasota, FL $75,621

Nashville, TN $75,566

Omaha, NE $75,566

Green Bay, WI $75,566

Baton Rouge, LA $75,526

Charleston, SC $75,510

Jamestown, NY $75,470

Davenport, IA $75,470

Tucson, AZ $75,430

Saint Petersburg, FL $75,383

Tampa, FL $75,367

Evansville, IN $75,319

Port Arthur, TX $75,319

Bradenton, FL $75,287

Santa Fe, NM $75,144

Orlando, FL $75,001

Clearwater, FL $74,977

Canton, OH $74,810

La Crosse, WI $74,810

Albuquerque, NM $74,762

Newport News, VA $74,754

High Point, NC $74,731

Ogden, UT $74,699

Corpus Christi, TX $74,635

Norfolk, VA $74,588

Laramie, WY $74,588

Rock Island, IL $74,540

Saginaw, MI $74,524

Jacksonville, FL $74,516

Salisbury, NC $74,500

Boise, ID $74,484

Moline, IL $74,444

Fort Myers, FL $74,421

Memphis, TN $74,405

Tulsa, OK $74,365

Waterloo, IA $74,317

Spartanburg, SC $74,238

Lincoln, NE $74,198

Fort Wayne, IN $74,182

Provo, UT $74,174

Cedar Falls, IA $74,079

San Antonio, TX $74,047

Greensboro, NC $74,015

South Bend, IN $74,007

Savannah, GA $73,920

Muskegon, MI $73,888

Birmingham, AL $73,880

Winston Salem, NC $73,841

Lake Charles, LA $73,649

Anderson, IN $73,633

Lexington, KY $73,609

Augusta, GA $73,586

Greenville, SC $73,586

Lima, OH $73,522

Wichita, KS $73,514

Tuscaloosa, AL $73,514

Columbia, SC $73,442

Springfield, OH $73,427

Asheville, NC $73,299

Bloomington, IN $73,244

Knoxville, TN $72,957

Shreveport, LA $72,949

Wilmington, NC $72,846

Roanoke, VA $72,846

Topeka, KS $72,703

Frankfort, KY $72,694

Oklahoma City, OK $72,639

Chillicothe, OH $72,608

Longview, TX $72,600

Melbourne, FL $72,592

Sioux Falls, SD $72,464

Mobile, AL $72,456

Terre Haute, IN $72,425

Altoona, PA $72,377

Amarillo, TX $72,321

Killeen, TX $72,297

Fayetteville, AR $72,234

Chattanooga, TN $72,210

Sioux City, IA $72,138

Idaho Falls, ID $72,122

Lynchburg, VA $72,059

Gainesville, FL $71,955

Portsmouth, OH $71,916

Little Rock, AR $71,900

Lafayette, LA $71,868

Youngstown, OH $71,868

Daytona Beach, FL $71,820

Clarksville, TN $71,812

Pensacola, FL $71,804

Temple, TX $71,799

Hopkinsville, KY $71,566

Erie, PA $71,550

Florence, SC $71,518

Charleston, WV $71,391

Great Falls, MT $71,351

Macon, GA $71,240

Tallahassee, FL $71,232

Fayetteville, NC $71,216

Waco, TX $71,200

Helena, MT $71,144

Pine Bluff, AR $71,114

Vincennes, IN $71,017

Lubbock, TX $70,985

Alamogordo, NM $70,938

Twin Falls, ID $70,866

Rapid City, SD $70,842

Jackson, MS $70,699

Huntington, WV $70,694

Greenville, MS $70,691

Parkersburg, WV $70,610

Montgomery, AL $70,596

Wichita Falls, TX $70,516

Springfield, MO $70,516

Biloxi, MS $70,476

Monroe, LA $70,397

Johnstown, PA $70,341

Sumter, SC $70,309

Columbus, GA $70,302

Pascagoula, MS $70,150

Abilene, TX $70,150

Kingsport, TN $69,944

Albany, GA $69,944

Gulfport, MS $69,920

Alexandria, LA $69,657

Fort Smith, AR $69,459

El Paso, TX $69,244

Las Cruces, NM $68,886

Harlingen, TX $68,684

Pocatello, ID $68,671

Florence, AL $68,568

Brownsville, TX $68,552

Mcallen, TX $68,385

Dothan, AL $68,274

Columbus, MS $67,801

Altus, OK $67,431

Lawton, OK $67,280

Pierre, SD $66,994

What Skills Can Increase a 3D & VFX Artist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Attention to Detail (Mentioned in 1.96% Job Postings): Executing and completing a task with a high level of accuracy.
3D CAD (Mentioned in 1.49% Job Postings): CAD is short for Computer-aided design. It's the use of computers to aid in the creation and optimization of a design. Designs made through 3D CAD software focus on the three dimensional quality of design of characters and objects.
Installation (Mentioned in 1.17% Job Postings): The action or process of installing someone or something, or of being installed. the act of installing the state of being installed, something that is installed for use.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Attention to Detail	1.96%
3D CAD	1.49%
Installation	1.17%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a 3D & VFX Artist's salary.

Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Analysis	$84,289	6%
Collaboration	$82,698	4%
Presentation	$82,698	4%
Telecommunications	$81,903	3%
Software Design	$81,903	3%
Innovation	$81,903	3%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a 3D & VFX Artist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many 3D & VFX Artists enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a 3D & VFX Artist with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $75,297 and $80,219).

3D & VFX Artist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for 3D & VFX Artist

No Diploma 0.9%

High School 21.0%

Associates 54.0%

Bachelors 21.9%

Masters 1.9%

Doctorate 0.3%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.9%
High School	21.0%
Associates	54.0%
Bachelors	21.9%
Masters	1.9%
Doctorate	0.3%

view as graph

3D & VFX Artist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 3D & VFX Artist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on May 01, 2026

$73,445

Average $79,518/year

$91,241

$6,120

Average $6,626/month

$7,603

$1,412

Average $1,529/week

$1,755

$35

Average $38/hour

$44

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$91,241	$7,603	$1,755	$44
Average	$79,518	$6,626	$1,529	$38
25th Percentile	$73,445	$6,120	$1,412	$35

Salaries of jobs related to 3D & VFX Artist

Salary Trends for 3D & VFX Artist

Salaries for a 3D & VFX Artist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,541 in 2023 to around $80,487 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of 3D & VFX Artist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of 3D & VFX Artist Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$82,541

2024

$81,751

2025

$80,487

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$82,541
2024	$81,751
2025	$80,487
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for 3D & VFX Artist

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Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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