Animator Job Search Tips & Best Practices

Pursuing a career in animation is an exciting process, one that can lead to a creative job opportunity. Many animation careers are available across the US in various industries and specializations. In order to be a competitive job candidate, aspiring Animators need to know where to go to look for jobs. This article will take a closer look at some of the most popular websites where animation careers are posted, including Google Jobs, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Indeed, and AnimatedJobs.com, so you can decide where to focus your job search.

Google Jobs

A good starting point that not everyone considers when searching for jobs is a simple Google search. Typing in “animation jobs” can provide a range of local opportunities. Recently, Google has set out to improve its search algorithm as a tool for finding jobs. With the introduction of jobs.google.com, many companies directly post job openings on this search engine’s platform. Even though the jobs that are most likely to turn up using this technique are local jobs, which aren’t always plentiful, Google Jobs is a quick and efficient way to find potential animation job opportunities.

Indeed.com

Indeed.com remains the most widely used job hosting platform around the planet. Each month, 180 million unique visits are made to the site. It’s become a popular place for companies of all sizes and types to post open positions and attract qualified candidates. Regardless of the type of animation career you’re in search of, Indeed is a great resource to find promising options. It’s important when using Indeed to remember that since the site is so expansive, the number of people who see each post is potentially very large, which can mean the jobs will be fairly competitive to obtain.

AnimatedJobs.com

To find animation-specific job posts, aspiring professionals can use AnimatedJobs.com. This job aggregation site focuses primarily on careers for Storyboard Artists, Concept Artists, 2D Animators, and 3D Animators. Because the site was created to help Animators find specific job posts, it can be a great resource for finding jobs that focus on industries like gaming or entertainment. Additionally, internships and freelance job postings are also common on AnimatedJobs.com, which makes this platform a great resource for Animators from all different backgrounds who have various experience levels. While far fewer jobs are posted on this site than on Indeed.com, the ones that are listed are much more likely to be relevant to aspiring Animators.

Linkedin.com

LinkedIn.com isn’t necessarily known as a job aggregation site; it’s primarily a robust networking platform that’s transitioning to include the infrastructure for job aggregation. Those who have a LinkedIn profile may find it useful to search this site for potential job openings. It’s also an excellent resource for networking and building professional connections with other Animators or creative individuals.

Glassdoor.com

Most people on the job hunt are familiar with Glassdoor.com This major job hosting platform is smaller than Indeed.com but still has many job postings for aspiring Animators. Those seeking animation employment can work with Glassdoor’s data aggregation and job information tools to look up information on the average pay rate for animation careers, the experience level needed to apply for certain positions or other relevant data points. Similar to Indeed, because of the sheer size of this site, the jobs posted are likely competitive since they are being seen by a vast audience. 

Animator Salary and Job Outlook

Animator salaries can vary depending on your experience, where you live, and the industry in which you work. Fortunately, prospects for Animators are strong, and the job outlook for Animators is expected to grow faster than average over the next decade. The demand for skilled Animators is especially strong in the video game, film, and advertising industries. With the rising popularity of streaming services and the steady demand for video games, there’s an ongoing need for fresh content. Plus, more businesses are using Animators in their marketing and educational content. 

Animators earn an average salary of $89,000 annually, and Software Publishers are the highest-paying industry for Animators, with an average yearly pay rate of $110,000. Salaries for animation jobs vary widely depending on where you live; pay may be as high as $127,000 per year in Portland, Oregon, or start at only $36,000 annually in Charleston, South Carolina. In cities like Los Angeles and New York, which are home to many major film and animation studios, Animators often command high salaries. Strong tech markets like San Francisco and Seattle also offer competitive pay for animators working in video games or tech industries. 

Learn the Skills to Become an Animator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop has several exciting educational opportunities available for aspiring Animators at all levels. In Noble’s Video Editing and Motion Graphics Certificate, participants receive comprehensive hands-on training designed to prepare them to pursue a career in motion graphics or video editing. Instruction is provided on core Adobe apps like Cinema 4D Lite, After Effects, Premiere Pro, and Audition. All participants in this program create a professional demo reel that can be shared with prospective employers. This certificate program includes eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions. Financing options are available.

Those who want to take their motion graphics skills to the next level can do so in Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate. This intensive program teaches students to create visual effects and motion graphics using Adobe After Effects. Participants study how to make 3D animations using Cinema 4D Lite. Instruction is provided on how to edit videos with Adobe Premiere Pro. This certificate program teaches students how to develop a project from concept into design and ultimately to fully animated graphics. Graduates of this course leave with a demo reel of motion graphics projects that can be shared with future employers to highlight their skills. Five 1-on-1 mentoring sessions are provided as part of this program.

For those who want to focus their training on a specific Adobe application, Noble offers After Effects Bootcamp. This hands-on program takes students from the basics of animation, such as how to navigate the workplace, up to advanced techniques, including green screen removal and motion tracking. An expert instructor with real-world animation experience teaches this project-based course. Tuition includes a bonus 1-on-1 mentoring session that can be used to drill down on difficult bootcamp concepts or for professional development purposes.

All Noble courses include a free course retake for up to one year. Instruction is provided in person in New York City and live online.