Rates, 2026
What should a VFX artist charge in New York or LA?
About $1,250 a day for a VFX artist who is working and booked in New York or Los Angeles. $875 in the first years, $1,625 when senior. VFX on a piece runs about $5,750.
Other markets: a major city · remote · a smaller market
First years
$875
a day · $100 an hour
Working, booked
$1,250
a day · $150 an hour
Senior, sought after
$1,625
a day · $200 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$1,250 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$150 per hour
- VFX on a piece$5,750 per project
Sold a project fee, by the day. The outcome is the unit; the day rate is for when a client wants your time instead.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for New York or Los Angeles: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Cleanup or removal$150 to $500 per shot
- Compositing$300 to $1,200 per shot
- Title sequence$2,000 to $8,000 each
- Screen replacement$100 to $400 per shot
How the number is made
VFX artists at this level day at about $1,250 ($700 to $1,800 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
VFX on a piece runs $1,500 to $10,000 and takes about 30 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $4,500. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a VFX artist in New York or LA?
- About $1,250 a day for someone working and booked, $875 in the first years, $1,625 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is vfx on a piece?
- $5,750 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
Pick your level and market, get a card you can send the next client who asks. Then RostrLab quotes, papers, invoices and chases every job with it: free for 14 days, $29 a month, never a cut.
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