# SOC 27-1014: Special Effects Artists and Animators

> Occupation profile: https://www.xh1b.org/soc/27-1014

Employers filed 6,696 certified H-1B applications for Special Effects Artists and Animators (27-1014) roles, requesting 7,938 workers. The average offered wage is $89,753/yr, 12% below the BLS national median ($102,030/yr). (2025, SOC 27-1014) The largest filers are Blizzard ENTERTAINMENT, Inc., Microsoft Corporation and Electronic Arts Inc.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total filings | 6,696 |
| Total workers | 7,938 |
| Average offered wage | $90K |
| Average prevailing wage | $73K |
| BLS median wage | $102K |
| Latest BLS year in scope | 2025 |
| Profile benchmark SOC | 27-1014 |
| BLS area | U.S. |

Filing wage badges use the latest national BLS median. Their detail shows the benchmark code and year. A mapped comparator can use a different occupation from the direct-code profile benchmark above. It is a screening comparison, not a claim that the occupations are identical.

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Offered vs BLS benchmark | -12% |

## Top employers (of 1,978)

| Employer | Filings | Workers | Avg wage | BLS median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Blizzard ENTERTAINMENT, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/blizzard-entertainment-inc-ea3c6ae4d0) | 235 | 235 | $99K | $102K |
| [Microsoft Corporation](https://www.xh1b.org/org/microsoft-corporation-6ef686b32f) | 232 | 628 | $147K | $102K |
| [Electronic Arts Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/electronic-arts-inc-895bd0333b) | 200 | 200 | $100K | $102K |
| [Activision Publishing Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/activision-publishing-inc-dfbc19748a) | 155 | 155 | $101K | $102K |
| [Google LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/google-llc-c2f0039b9a) | 153 | 153 | $140K | $102K |
| [Pixar](https://www.xh1b.org/org/pixar-faea5a12c1) | 138 | 138 | $81K | $102K |
| [The Mill Group, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/the-mill-group-inc-a89478d398) | 137 | 192 | $70K | $102K |
| [Riot Games, Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/riot-games-inc-1376c3cdc8) | 137 | 137 | $92K | $102K |
| [DreamWorks Animation LLC](https://www.xh1b.org/org/dreamworks-animation-llc-fd85fe259f) | 130 | 130 | $98K | $102K |
| [Apple Inc.](https://www.xh1b.org/org/apple-inc-4c462d6dd5) | 115 | 283 | $163K | $102K |

## Filing trend

| Year | Filings | Workers | Median offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 7 | $85K |
| 2010 | 99 | 105 | $65K |
| 2011 | 499 | 529 | $65K |
| 2012 | 384 | 403 | $69K |
| 2013 | 353 | 353 | $68K |
| 2014 | 362 | 378 | $70K |
| 2015 | 355 | 371 | $80K |
| 2016 | 386 | 398 | $65K |
| 2017 | 435 | 511 | $75K |
| 2018 | 520 | 788 | $78K |
| 2019 | 551 | 826 | $82K |
| 2020 | 424 | 922 | $89K |
| 2021 | 443 | 443 | $105K |
| 2022 | 450 | 451 | $105K |
| 2023 | 305 | 305 | $109K |
| 2024 | 285 | 289 | $122K |
| 2025 | 233 | 246 | $121K |
| 2026 | 40 | 48 | $147K |

## State filing trends (2015 to 2026)

| State | Total filings | 2026 filings | 2026 filings per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| [California](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ca) | 3,304 | 27 | 0.1 |
| [New York](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ny) | 898 | 4 | 0.0 |
| [Washington](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wa) | 357 | 3 | 0.0 |
| [Texas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tx) | 169 | 2 | 0.0 |
| [Georgia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ga) | 136 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Massachusetts](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ma) | 112 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Florida](https://www.xh1b.org/state/fl) | 105 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Illinois](https://www.xh1b.org/state/il) | 76 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [North Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nc) | 64 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Jersey](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nj) | 57 | 1 | 0.0 |
| [Maryland](https://www.xh1b.org/state/md) | 35 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Utah](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ut) | 32 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Connecticut](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ct) | 31 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Pennsylvania](https://www.xh1b.org/state/pa) | 30 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Michigan](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mi) | 29 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Nevada](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nv) | 29 | 3 | 0.1 |
| [Oregon](https://www.xh1b.org/state/or) | 21 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Minnesota](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mn) | 17 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Wisconsin](https://www.xh1b.org/state/wi) | 16 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Colorado](https://www.xh1b.org/state/co) | 14 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Ohio](https://www.xh1b.org/state/oh) | 14 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Arizona](https://www.xh1b.org/state/az) | 12 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [District of Columbia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/dc) | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Missouri](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mo) | 10 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Virginia](https://www.xh1b.org/state/va) | 8 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Hawaii](https://www.xh1b.org/state/hi) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Kansas](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ks) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Kentucky](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ky) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Oklahoma](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ok) | 4 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Tennessee](https://www.xh1b.org/state/tn) | 3 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Louisiana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/la) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Montana](https://www.xh1b.org/state/mt) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Rhode Island](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ri) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [South Carolina](https://www.xh1b.org/state/sc) | 2 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Delaware](https://www.xh1b.org/state/de) | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [Iowa](https://www.xh1b.org/state/ia) | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Hampshire](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nh) | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |
| [New Mexico](https://www.xh1b.org/state/nm) | 1 | 0 | 0.0 |


Per 100k residents uses the U.S. Census Bureau annual population estimate for that state and year; years after the latest published estimate carry that estimate forward. The latest filing year may be a partial period.

## More

- Full page (charts, tables, interactive): https://www.xh1b.org/soc/27-1014
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-employers?code=27-1014
- JSON API: https://www.xh1b.org/api/soc-filings?code=27-1014


## References

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1. Dataset documentation · DOL OFLC. [LCA public disclosure record layout (FY2026 Q3)](https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ETA/oflc/pdfs/FY26Q3/LCA_Record_Layout_FY2026_Q3.pdf). Pages 1–4: application, DOL outcome and dates, requested positions, employer, representatives, worksites and pay units. This layout covers determinations issued October 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It documents employer-provided application fields and DOL decisions, not USCIS decisions, payroll verification, legal bills or worker-linked moves. Older layouts can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

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2. Dataset documentation · BLS. [OEWS technical notes (May 2025)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/2025/may/oes_tec.htm). Scope of the survey; occupational coding; concepts and estimation methodology. Documents occupation and geographic wage estimates, not an individual worker’s pay. Use the estimate year and geography stated by the site; older releases can differ. Checked 2026-10-17.

<a id="reference-data-lca-data-bls-data-soc-system-calculation-method-indicators-method-soc-system"></a>

3. Guidance · BLS. [Standard Occupational Classification](https://www.bls.gov/soc/finding_soc_code.htm). Classification Principles 1–2 and Coding Guideline 2; job duties, not job titles. Checked 2026-10-08.

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4. XH1B method or registry · XH1B. [Calculation and Matching Methods; Reading Public Records and Derived Indicators](https://www.xh1b.org/data-sources). Filing units, annualization, weighting, wage comparisons, and inference limits; Reading records: units, source coverage, wage gaps, entity links, and inference limits. These are the site's review methods, not validated predictions of wrongdoing. Inspect underlying records and alternative explanations.