Also called: FX TD, Houdini Artist
Uses physics simulations to create fire, water, smoke, explosions, and crumbling buildings.
An FX TD builds a computer simulation of a tidal wave crashing into a city, tweaking physics settings and running huge renders overnight. It blends art, coding, and physics.
Approximate; senior FX TDs are among the best-paid VFX artists.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Degree in computer graphics, physics, or CS; Houdini expertise.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Science, Physics, Computer Animation.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). Tracks VFX growth.
Medium risk for 10 years. Machine-learning simulators speed fire, water and smoke; designing art-directed effects and fixing tough sims still need TDs.
Classes: Physics, AP Calculus, Computer science, Art.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
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