Animator Salary:

Animators who know how to transform ideas and images into animated, visual stories enjoy a competitive salary in most parts of the US. While the salary rates for Animators vary considerably from one role to another, and depend on experience level and the type of animation work being completed, most Animators are paid well for their creative efforts. On average, 3D Animators who are just getting started can expect to make $60,000-$65,000 a year, whereas those who have a few years of experience make closer to $75,000 annually. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in animation, you may wonder what to expect in terms of pay and what factors affect this number. Read on to learn more about how variables like education, location, industry, and experience all contribute to your pay rate, as well as some of the highest-paying career paths.

What is an Animator?

Animators bring characters, objects, and scenes to life by placing images in a sequence that suggests movement. They may use hand-drawn or computer-generated images or a combination of both. Animators are often involved in the full scope of a project, from developing new concepts to designing characters and backgrounds and outlining the animation sequence in storyboards. They begin an animation sequence by creating keyframes and the main points of movement, then develop the in-between frames that ensure smooth motion. 

Animators usually report to a Creative Director or Animation Director and might also work closely with writers, other artists, and technical staff. On larger projects, Animators may be part of a team assigned specific roles, such as Character Animation, Background Animation, or Special Effects Animator. Animation is often used in movies, television shows, video games, websites, and other media. In the games industry, animators are known as Computer Graphics (CG) or 3D Animators and may collaborate with programmers and artists. In the animation industry, Animators work from a brief provided by the Director or Animation Director and a storyboard developed by the Storyboard Artist. A Special Effects Supervisor, known as an SFX Supervisor, is usually in charge of the special effects team on a film or television production.

The working environment for Animators can vary greatly, depending on their place of employment and current project. Some Animators work in studios as part of a larger team and collaborate closely with other artists and designers. The team-based environment can be fast-paced, with many brainstorming sessions and group meetings. Freelance Animators work more independently and manage their own schedules and client communications. Being an Animator requires a mix of creativity, technical skills, and attention to detail. Animators need to keep up with the latest animation software and techniques, and they must be able to adapt their style to fit different projects.

What Affects Your Pay as an Animator?

Pay rates for Animators are largely dependent on a host of factors, including your prior training or educational background, your previous animation experience, the industry of focus, your location, and your animation specialization. The following sections will go into greater detail about each of these factors and the role they play in salary ranges.

Education

Before you pursue a career in animation, you may wonder if you need a degree to do so or if getting one will increase your earning potential. Nearly three-quarters of Animators hold a bachelor’s degree, and only 8% have a master’s degree. While some employers seek candidates with college degrees in media arts or computer animation, this is not required for all job openings. 

Career-focused skills programs, including those offered by providers like Noble Desktop, provide the hands-on training needed to become an Animator and teach the tools and skills you’ll use in this field, including Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D Lite. These programs typically take much less time to complete and cost significantly less than four-year college study, which makes them an appealing alternative to university coursework. Graduates can put their training to use immediately upon graduation rather than waiting four or more years to do so. Additionally, comprehensive programs like certificates in motion graphics often provide professional development incentives like career counseling, portfolio development, or private mentoring along with tuition, which are excellent resources for career-minded individuals. 

Generally speaking, it’s more important to be able to demonstrate your skills to an employer than to hold a specific degree. Those who can show prospective employers that they can work with the most in-demand tools and software, such as Adobe CC apps, to create stunning animations will receive higher salaries than those who lack this training, regardless of degree status or educational background.

Experience

Experience is a huge contributing factor to animation salaries. Similar to other professions, those who have on-the-job experience under their belt typically make more competitive salaries than those who lack this credential. Experienced Animators are typically able to handle more job responsibilities than those who are new to animation. They also have more career opportunities, since their skill set is in greater demand than novices. Animators with several years of experience can also pursue management-related roles, whereas these jobs wouldn’t be available to those who are just getting started with animation. More experience can also earn Animators greater creative control over their projects and more independence in executing them. 

Industry

Like other career paths, those who work with 3D animation are often paid more when employed by large, successful studios versus small independent creators. Likewise, Animators who work in prominent industries like television or film can expect to make more than those employed in industries like online advertising. One example is Disney; they make hundreds of millions of dollars on films that require 3D animation, which means they are more selective about who they hire. Those who are qualified to work as 3D Animators at Disney can, therefore, expect higher compensation for their creative skills. That said, even small advertising studios tend to pay Animators well when compared to the pay rates of other creative professionals. Those who work in a freelance capacity have more flexibility to establish their own pay rates for animation-related jobs than those who work in-house.

Location

Location is a key determinant of the salary ranges for Animators. Many animation job openings tend to be located in or around several major US cities, including Los Angeles and New York City. Those employed in animation for TV or film will find ample job listings in hubs like LA. Like other professions, major metropolitan areas might pay higher salaries, but that reward can be outweighed by the increased cost of living. A higher cost of living isn’t necessarily a prohibitive factor, but should be a consideration for aspiring Animators when they select a region of the US in which they hope to work.

Specialization

Animators who have learned an in-demand specialized skill can be rewarded for their expertise. Not only is specialization a contributing factor to pay rates in animation careers but there are also more job openings available to those who specialize in a particular art style or genre of film. Animators with a specialized skill set are often more attractive to companies that focus on fields like game design or software development. Film studios may seek out Animators with knowledge of a particular style of art. Pay rates for those with specialized knowledge are often higher as well since this type of training isn’t common to all who work in animation.

Pay Range for Animators

Generally speaking, job 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 peak salaries. Strong tech markets like San Francisco and Seattle also offer competitive pay for animators working in video games or tech industries. 

In addition to physical location, experience is a huge contributing factor to pay rates in Animation. According to Glassdoor, 3D Animators who have one year or less experience make approximately $60,000-$65,000. Indeed.com places this average rate closer to $76,000-$86,000 yearly. Those who have several years of experience can expect a pay bump to around $75,000 annually, according to Glassdoor. 

Highest-Earning Job Titles for Animators

3D Animators can secure high-paying career paths via two routes: They can train to manage teams of Animators or acquire the necessary experience to qualify for a role as an Animation Director. Senior Animators and Lead Animators oversee entry-level 3D Animators in places like film studios. These individuals must make sure all tasks are completed in a cost-effective manner that’s on schedule with major deadlines. In addition to working on their own animation projects, these leaders must also be skilled in management and able to work alongside other creative-minded individuals who are involved with the project. The average pay rate for those who manage lower-level Animators is $80,000-$90,000 in the US, according to Glassdoor.

Animation Directors are hired to oversee entire divisions of Animators. These professionals are afforded greater creative control over their animated project’s direction. On a daily basis, they spend more time working closely with Editors, other Directors, Storyboard Artists, Designers, and Artists than they do on their own animation projects. Their role is more focused on the creative vision driving the project as a whole and the large decisions that impact it, rather than specific design-related choices. In the US, Animation Directors earn approximately $100,000 a year.

The highest-paying job title for 3D Animators is the Chief Creative Director, also referred to as the Creative Operations Director or Chief of Creative Operations. These creative-minded individuals are tasked with overseeing a company or studio’s creative direction. They are usually sought out for their unique creative voice and their training that enables them to guide their studio or firm in a new creative direction. Chief Creative Directors who work for mid-sized companies make a competitive salary of approximately $250,000 annually. Pay rates may be even higher for those employed at a massive company, but these positions are very competitive.

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.