Also called: FX Technical Director, Effects Artist
Simulates water, fire, smoke, and explosions for movies and TV using physics-based software.
You tune a fluid simulation so a tidal wave in a blockbuster crashes convincingly, adjusting viscosity, gravity, and turbulence. Overnight, a render farm crunches your shots; the next morning the director reviews them.
Based on special effects artists and animators.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in computer animation, computer science, or physics; strong portfolio required.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught, 2-year college. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Computer Animation, Computer Science, Physics, Visual Effects.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. AI video tools now generate water, fire and smoke shots directly; fewer simulation artist jobs at studios.
Classes: AP Physics, Art, Computer graphics or video.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.