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Special Effects Artists and Animators

Occupation · SOC 27-1014.00

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

Also called: 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist) · Animator · Artist · Graphic Artist · 3D Animator (Three-Dimensional Animator) · Digital Artist · Motion Graphics Artist · Multimedia Producer · 3D Designer (Three-dimensional Designer) · 3D Modeler (Three-Dimensional Modeler) · 3D Specialist (Three-Dimensional Specialist) · Animation Artist

Job family: Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

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Download .md

A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch /roles/role-27-1014-00/context.md directly.

AI work map

A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.

Often handed to AI

Task areas most often handled directively in observed AI conversations — candidates to delegate with light review.

  • Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. · 12.3%
See how AI is used here →

Use as a copilot

Task areas where people work with AI — iterating, learning, or checking — staying in the loop rather than handing the task off.

  • Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. · 36.2%
  • Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. · 6.4%
  • Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. · 0.3%
See collaboration patterns →

Keep a human in the loop

Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.

  • Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. · 94.2% need a human
  • Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. · 72.5% need a human
  • Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. · 61.3% need a human
See the boundary tasks →

68th-percentile task overlap — yet about 5,000 openings a year (+1.6% projected, BLS), and observed AI use leans 5206% copilot, not hand-off (AEI) . What exposure means →

AI & job outlook

What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.

Exposure to current AI

Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.

Measure Rank vs all occupations Percentile Score
Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Moderate 65th 0.7
LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) High 95th 1.0
AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate 43rd 0.1

OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.5), and including AI-powered software (γ 1.0). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.

Most of this job's tasks can be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman), which tends to track with higher digital and AI exposure.

Historical automation estimate (2013)

A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.

Frey–Osborne probability 0.0 · 11th percentile among occupations · Low

How AI is actually used in this job

Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.

Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. 31.2%
Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. 30.7%
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. 8.0%
Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. 0.6%
Apply story development, directing, cinematography, and editing to animation to create storyboards that show the flow of the animation and map out key scenes and characters. 0.6%
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television. 0.5%

Job outlook

Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.

Outlook About average · +1.6% by 2034
Projected annual openings 5,000
Employment 2024 → 2034 57,100 → 58,000

“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.

Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient

The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.

49% mean task exposure (2025)
88th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+7 pts shift 2023 → 2025
International occupation (ISCO-08) Task exposure (2025) Most tasks fall in
Graphic and Multimedia Designers · 2166 49% Gradient 2

Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.

Working with AI in this job

How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.

Augmentation vs. automation 52.1% working with AI · 45.8% handed to AI
Most common way people use AI here Iteration · you and AI go back and forth
Typical AI autonomy 4.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently
Used for work (vs. personal / coursework) 64.5%

What people delegate to AI

The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.

Task How Usage
Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. Iteration 36.2%
Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. Directive 12.3%
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. Iteration 6.4%
Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. Iteration 0.3%

Where a human is still needed

Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.

Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. 94.2%
Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. 72.5%
Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. 61.3%
Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. 52.7%

What people most often hand AI here

Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.

  • Help me develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows.

    From: Develop briefings, brochures, multimedia presentations, web pages, promotional products, technical illustrations, and computer artwork for use in products, technical manuals, literature, newsletters, and slide shows. · 36.2% of measured AI use · task iteration

  • Help me use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence.

    From: Use models to simulate the behavior of animated objects in the finished sequence. · 12.3% of measured AI use · directive

  • Help me design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.

    From: Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment. · 6.4% of measured AI use · task iteration

  • Help me script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques.

    From: Script, plan, and create animated narrative sequences under tight deadlines, using computer software and hand drawing techniques. · 0.3% of measured AI use · task iteration

Tasks

All 14 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.

Work activities

Knowledge, skills & abilities

O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics 5.0
English Language 4.4
Design 4.2
Communications and Media 4.1
Customer and Personal Service 3.9
Sales and Marketing 3.9
Telecommunications 3.5
Engineering and Technology 3.2
Production and Processing 3.1
Geography 3.0
Administration and Management 2.9
Fine Arts 2.9

Abilities

Oral Comprehension 4.1
Written Comprehension 4.0
Oral Expression 4.0
Visualization 4.0
Near Vision 3.9
Problem Sensitivity 3.6
Deductive Reasoning 3.6
Visual Color Discrimination 3.6
Written Expression 3.5
Originality 3.5
Speech Clarity 3.5
Fluency of Ideas 3.4
Information Ordering 3.4
Inductive Reasoning 3.3
Speech Recognition 3.1
Category Flexibility 3.0
Selective Attention 3.0

Essential skills

Active Listening 3.9
Reading Comprehension 3.8
Critical Thinking 3.8
Speaking 3.3
Writing 3.1
Active Learning 3.1
Monitoring 3.0
Learning Strategies 2.9

Transferable skills

Judgment and Decision Making 3.1
Complex Problem Solving 3.0
Time Management 3.0

Skills in demand

Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.

Showing the top 40 of 64.

Tools & technology

Example Category
Adobe After Effects Video creation and editing software Hot technology In demand
Adobe Creative Cloud software Graphics or photo imaging software Hot technology In demand
Adobe Illustrator Graphics or photo imaging software Hot technology In demand
Adobe InDesign Desktop publishing software Hot technology In demand
Adobe Photoshop Graphics or photo imaging software Hot technology In demand
Canva Graphics or photo imaging software Hot technology In demand
Cascading style sheets CSS Web platform development software Hot technology In demand
Figma Graphical user interface development software Hot technology In demand
Hypertext markup language HTML Web platform development software Hot technology In demand
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software Hot technology In demand
Microsoft Office software Office suite software Hot technology In demand
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation software Hot technology In demand
Adobe Acrobat Document management software Hot technology
AJAX Web platform development software Hot technology
Apple macOS Operating system software Hot technology
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Computer aided design CAD software Hot technology
C Development environment software Hot technology
C++ Object or component oriented development software Hot technology
Extensible markup language XML Enterprise application integration software Hot technology
JavaScript Web platform development software Hot technology
jQuery Object or component oriented development software Hot technology
Microsoft Visio Process mapping and design software Hot technology
Microsoft Windows Operating system software Hot technology
Microsoft Word Word processing software Hot technology
PHP Web platform development software Hot technology
Python Object or component oriented development software Hot technology
Trimble SketchUp Pro Graphics or photo imaging software Hot technology
UNIX Operating system software Hot technology
Adobe Premiere Pro Video creation and editing software In demand
Autodesk Maya Graphics or photo imaging software In demand
Maxon Cinema 4D Video creation and editing software In demand
SideFX Houdini Graphics or photo imaging software In demand
Unity Technologies Unity Development environment software In demand
Unreal Technology Unreal Engine Development environment software In demand
Ability Photopaint Graphics or photo imaging software
ACD Systems Canvas Graphics or photo imaging software
Adobe ActionScript Development environment software
Adobe AIR Development environment software
Adobe Director Video creation and editing software
Adobe Dreamweaver Web page creation and editing software

Showing the top 40 of 130.

Work context

How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.

E-Mail 5.0
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams 4.6
Spend Time Sitting 4.6
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team 4.5
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled 4.5
Time Pressure 4.5
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate 4.4
Frequency of Decision Making 4.3
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls 4.3
Freedom to Make Decisions 4.3
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers 4.1
Telephone Conversations 4.1
Contact With Others 4.1
Level of Competition 3.8
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals 3.7
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results 3.7
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General 3.6
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities 3.6
Consequence of Error 3.1
Physical Proximity 3.1
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions 3.0
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks 2.8
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable 2.6
Health and Safety of Other Workers 2.3
Conflict Situations 2.2
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions 2.1
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People 2.1
Degree of Automation 2.0
Written Letters and Memos 2.0
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment 2.0
Public Speaking 2.0
Spend Time Standing 1.7
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions 1.6
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment 1.6
Spend Time Walking or Running 1.4
Outdoors, Under Cover 1.3
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures 1.3
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets 1.2
Exposed to High Places 1.2
Exposed to Contaminants 1.2

How to get in

Job zone
Zone 4 — Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
Related experience
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Preparation level
SVP (7.0 to < 8.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.

What to study: Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services , Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services , Visual and Performing Arts . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.

Education of current workers

Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.

High School Diploma 5.4%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) 1.7%
Master's Degree 0.3%
Less than a High School Diploma 0.1%

Interests & work styles

The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.

Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)

Artistic 7.0
Realistic 3.7
Conventional 3.1
Investigative 2.8
Enterprising 2.6
Social 2.2

Interest areas

Visual Arts 6.8
Applied Arts and Design 6.5
Media 6.0
Information Technology 4.6
Performing Arts 3.3
Marketing/Advertising 3.0
Engineering 2.6

Work styles

Attention to Detail 3.0
Innovation 2.9
Intellectual Curiosity 2.0

Wages & employment

U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)

$57k10th$73k25th$100kMedian$136k75th$175k90th
Annual wages by percentile — U.S. (BLS OEWS). The light band spans the 10th–90th percentile; the darker band is the middle half (25th–75th); the line is the median.
57k202458k2034 (proj.)+1.6% · About average
Projected U.S. employment, 2024–2034 (BLS Employment Projections). A labor-market forecast for the occupation, not an AI-impact forecast.
10th percentile $57,220
25th percentile $73,030
Median (50th) $99,800
75th percentile $135,600
90th percentile $174,630
People employed 21,280

Industries that employ this occupation

Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.

Industry Workers National median pay
Information · Sector 11,750 $112,650
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector 5,420 $95,390
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector 1,360 $86,070
Manufacturing · Sector 710 $85,170
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector 470 $95,700
Educational Services · Sector 400 $64,340
Wholesale Trade · Sector 390 $85,030
Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector 370 $75,670
Temporary Help Services · National industry 230 $105,880
Engineering Services · National industry 200 $86,690
Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector 60 $42,430
Television Broadcasting Stations · National industry 40 $86,100

Where this work is most concentrated

Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).

Industry Concentration Workers
Information · Sector 29.28× 11,750
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector 3.73× 1,360
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector 3.65× 5,420
Engineering Services · National industry 1.25× 200
Management of Companies and Enterprises · Sector 0.95× 370
Temporary Help Services · National industry 0.63× 230
Wholesale Trade · Sector 0.47× 390
Manufacturing · Sector 0.4× 710

Part of the Arts, Entertainment, & Design career cluster.

Exposure quadrant: AI task-overlap percentile vs Median pay Special Effects Artists and Animators sits at the 68th percentile of AI task-overlap and the 82nd percentile of median pay, placed here against 12 adjacent occupations on the same two axes. Lower overlap · higher pay Higher overlap · higher pay Higher overlap · lower pay Lower overlap · lower pay Special Effects Artists and Animators Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators Prepress Technicians and Workers Photographers Producers and Directors Film and Video Editors Commercial and Industrial Designers Art Directors Desktop Publishers AI task-overlap percentile → ↑ Median pay
AI task-overlap percentile (horizontal) vs. median-pay percentile (vertical), across all scored occupations. This occupation is highlighted; related occupations are plotted alongside it. Overlap measures shared tasks with AI, not automation.

Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.

What you can do with this

Options the data surfaces for Special Effects Artists and Animators — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.

Skills that travel

Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.

Paths in

How people typically prepare for this work.

Zoom out

On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 88th percentile of 427 international occupations.

Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation

Special Effects Artists and Animators show 68th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 5,000 annual U.S. openings

  • Special Effects Artists and Animators rank in the 68th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
  • The occupation is projected to see about 5,000 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
  • BLS projects employment to be about average (+1.6%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
  • Median annual pay is $99,800, across about 21,280 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
  • Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 52% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census.2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2
Copy the whole kit
Special Effects Artists and Animators show 68th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 5,000 annual U.S. openings

• Special Effects Artists and Animators rank in the 68th percentile (High band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE)
• The occupation is projected to see about 5,000 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34)
• BLS projects employment to be about average (+1.6%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34)
• Median annual pay is $99,800, across about 21,280 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024))
• Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 52% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census. (2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2)

Source: Singulariki — "Special Effects Artists and Animators". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-27-1014-00
Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.

AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom

Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

Cite this page
Plain

Singulariki. "Special Effects Artists and Animators." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-27-1014-00

APA

Singulariki. (2026). Special Effects Artists and Animators. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-27-1014-00

BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-27-1014-00,
  title  = {Special Effects Artists and Animators},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-27-1014-00}
}

Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.

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