Jobs Similar to Special Effects Artists and Animators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to special effects artists and animators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Graphic Designers, Film and Video Editors and Art Directors.
Special Effects Artists and Animators: $102,030 median pay · usual preparation: Bachelor's degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Special Effects Artists and Animators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Graphic DesignersSame group | 81% | $62,960−38% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | Film and Video Editors | 80% | $75,420−26% | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Art DirectorsSame group | 77% | $114,850+13% | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Fashion DesignersSame group | 74% | $80,960−21% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Producers and Directors | 73% | $90,360−11% | Bachelor's degree |
| 6 | Video Game Designers | 72% | $104,000Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and IllustratorsSame group | 71% | $55,490−46% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Interior DesignersSame group | 71% | $67,190−34% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Desktop Publishers | 71% | $55,290−46% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Writers and Authors | 71% | $76,910−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers | 69% | $76,910Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists | 69% | $62,200−39% | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersSame group | 68% | $39,390−61% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Photographers | 68% | $44,660−56% | Training or associate |
| 15 | Editors | 68% | $77,920−24% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Music Directors and Composers | 68% | $73,710−28% | Bachelor's degree |
| 17 | Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys | 68% | $47,340−54% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Commercial and Industrial DesignersSame group | 67% | $83,910−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Set and Exhibit DesignersSame group | 67% | $75,240−26% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Web and Digital Interface Designers | 66% | $104,000+2% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Graphic Designers
81% similar · $62,960 (−38%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Film and Video Editors
80% similar · $75,420 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree
- 3Art Directors
77% similar · $114,850 (+13%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Fashion Designers
74% similar · $80,960 (−21%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 5Producers and Directors
73% similar · $90,360 (−11%) · Bachelor's degree
- 6Video Game Designers
72% similar · $104,000 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators
71% similar · $55,490 (−46%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 8Interior Designers
71% similar · $67,190 (−34%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Desktop Publishers
71% similar · $55,290 (−46%) · Training or associate
- 10Writers and Authors
71% similar · $76,910 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Poets, Lyricists and Creative Writers
69% similar · $76,910 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
69% similar · $62,200 (−39%) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers
68% similar · $39,390 (−61%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Photographers
68% similar · $44,660 (−56%) · Training or associate
- 15Editors
68% similar · $77,920 (−24%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Music Directors and Composers
68% similar · $73,710 (−28%) · Bachelor's degree
- 17Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
68% similar · $47,340 (−54%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Commercial and Industrial Designers
67% similar · $83,910 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 19Set and Exhibit Designers
67% similar · $75,240 (−26%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Web and Digital Interface Designers
66% similar · $104,000 (+2%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than special effects artists and animators.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Fashion Designers74% similar · Training or associate
- Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators71% similar · Training or associate
- Desktop Publishers71% similar · Training or associate
- Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers68% similar · Training or associate
- Photographers68% similar · Training or associate
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for special effects artists and animators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where special effects artists and animators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like special effects artists and animators
What jobs are most similar to special effects artists and animators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Graphic Designers (81% similar), Film and Video Editors (80% similar), Art Directors (77% similar), Fashion Designers (74% similar) and Producers and Directors (73% similar).
Which jobs like special effects artists and animators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Art Directors ($114,850, +13%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Web and Digital Interface Designers ($104,000, +2%; usually a bachelor's degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with special effects artists and animators ($102,030). Without more preparation than special effects artists and animators usually need: Art Directors and Web and Digital Interface Designers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.