Home › Occupations › Special Effects Artists and Animators › Santa Monica, CA
Special Effects Artists and Animators in Santa Monica, CA: H-1B salaries
50 labor condition applications for this occupation with a work site in Santa Monica, CA. Median offered base salary $122,500; middle half $107,240–$140,180.
By wage level
| Wage level | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Level I (entry) | $100,000 |
| Level II (qualified) | $108,778 |
| Level III (experienced) | $130,000 |
| Level IV (fully competent) | $152,734 |
The Department of Labor sets four prevailing wage levels for each occupation and area, from Level I (entry) to Level IV (fully competent). The employer picks the level that matches the job's requirements.
Employers
| Employer | LCAs | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Snap Inc. | 23 | $134,742 |
| Naughty Dog a limited liability company | 11 | $120,000 |
| The Harbor Picture Company, Inc. | 4 | $100,000 |
| Framestore, Inc | 3 | $150,000 |
| Vertisystem Inc. | 2 | $114,400 |
| A52, LLC | 1 | $110,250 |
| Skydance Interactive, LLC | 1 | $110,000 |
| Trafik, Inc. | 1 | $106,288 |
| Company 3 / Method, Inc. | 1 | $104,000 |
| Wildlight Entertainment, Inc. | 1 | $135,000 |
| Specs Inc. | 1 | $152,734 |
| Skydance Animation, LLC | 1 | $127,920 |
Job titles
- Lead Color Assist4
- Senior Character Artist3
- Game Designer3
- Character Artist2
- Product Designer (4)2
- AR Designer, VFX (3)2
- AR Designer, Studio (4)2
- Visual Designer (5)2
- Sr. AR Designer, VFX (5)2
- Technical Artist2
- Environment Concept Artist2
- Sr. AR Designer, Concept (5)2
- CG Lighting Technical Director1
- Technical Animator (3)1
- Studio Designer (3)1
H-1B sponsors in Santa Monica, CA →
Salaries are the lower end of the wage offered on each application, converted to a yearly amount; statistics use certified full-time applications only. An LCA is not a visa approval and one LCA can cover several positions. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, fiscal years 2023–2026 (latest decision Jun 30, 2026).