How much does an Animator make?

Updated Sep 15, 2022

Experience

Industry

$56,835 / yrTotal Pay
$53,042 / yrBase Pay
$3,793 / yrAdditional Pay

$56,835

 / yr
$35K$93K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

The estimated total pay for a Animator is $56,835 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $53,042 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $3,793 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

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Total Pay Trajectory

For Animator

$56,835 /yr
Animator
$72,215 /yr
Senior Animator
$73,380 /yr
Lead Animator
See Full Career Path

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Top Paying Companies

For an Animator in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for an Animator in United States. Employers include Riot Games, Pixar Animation Studios and Blizzard Entertainment.

1
Riot Games
$90,814/yr
Total Pay Trajectory

For Animator

$56,835 /yr
Animator
$72,215 /yr
Senior Animator
$73,380 /yr
Lead Animator

Download as data table

What are total pay estimates for an Animator at different companies?

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Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
Pixar Animation Studios
4.2
AnimatorSee 43 salaries from all locations

$88,466

 / yr

$75,492

 / yr

$78,538

 / yr

$82,924

 / yr

$40

 / hr

$84,656

 / yr

$34

 / hr

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$87,852

 / yr

$62,575

 / yr

$38

 / hr

$38

 / hr

$40

 / hr

$79,956

 / yr

$38

 / hr

$70,338

 / yr

$35

 / hr

$90,814

 / yr

$33

 / hr

$78,491

 / yr

$80,333

 / yr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 780

Top Paying Industries

For an Animator in United States

The top 5 paying industries for an Animator in United States are Media & Communication with a median total pay of $79,183, Information Technology with a median total pay of $73,062, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation with a median total pay of $70,375, Human Resources & Staffing with a median total pay of $62,575, and Retail & Wholesale with a median total pay of $59,864.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Media & CommunicationMedia & Communication$79,183

    1% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$73,062

    7% Lower than other industries

  • Arts, Entertainment & RecreationArts, Entertainment & Recreation$70,375

    11% Lower than other industries

  • Human Resources & StaffingHuman Resources & Staffing$62,575

    25% Lower than other industries

  • Retail & WholesaleRetail & Wholesale$59,864

    30% Lower than other industries

Media & Communication

Top paying companies in Media & Communication for Animator are Riot Games, Pixar Animation Studios, and Blizzard Entertainment.

Riot GamesRiot Games$90,814/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Arts & Design?

Jobs in arts & design are growing due to increased access to remote work. These jobs often require a bachelor’s degree and technical skills such as graphic design software, web-development and research. Salaries vary, as jobs tend to be short-term and contractual, offering workers flexible schedules and the opportunity to manage multiple projects at once.

Recent Salaries Shared

For animator

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

3D Animator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$10

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Animator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$30,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Animator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$25

/hr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Animator

United States of America

 | 10-14 years

$5,200

/mo

Submitted 2 days ago

10-14 years
2 days ago
VFX Artist

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$85,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago
3D Animator

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$58,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago

Animator pay FAQ

The national average salary for an Animator is $53,042 per year in United States. Filter by location to see an Animator salaries in your area. Salaries estimates are based on 1525 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by an Animator employees.

The highest salary for an Animator in United States is $86,468 per year.

The lowest salary for an Animator in United States is $32,537 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming an Animator or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of an Animator.

Animators earn similar compensation to graphic designers and special effects artists. Some animators are self-employed freelancers while others work as salaried employees across all industries. Animators who work for specialized design services firms, public relations firms, or advertising firms generally have the highest salaries. Freelancers’ pay varies by the number of contracts they secure and the rates they charge.

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Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

Approximately 71% of animators feel satisfied with their current earnings. For professionals with membership in the Animation Guild, five to seven years of experience, and in-depth knowledge of animation software, the salary of an animator could be considered good.

Join thousands of real professionals anonymously talking about salaries in their industry

Animators have the potential to earn a high salary, with earnings ranging between $34,740.23 and $93,428.71 and an average of $53,049.94. The more experience you gain and skills you master, the more you'll earn in your animation career, so after building experience and a reputation, consider a senior-level role. Lead animators often have a higher average annual salary and better benefits than their entry-level counterparts.

Learn more about negotiating salaries from thousands of other real professionals

You can earn more from your career as an animator through three primary methods: skills, experience, and professional membership. First, master marketable skills such as Adobe Creative Suite, Maya, Zbrush, illustration, CelAction 2D, and Moho Pro. As a professional, the more competence you have, the higher your earning potential. Next, gain valuable experience and grow your network through animator internships, apprenticeships, part-time, contract, or remote work. Animation is a creative field with diverse opportunities; take advantage of them and you'll grow an impressive resume. Finally, joining the Animation Guild underscores your role as a professional, opens the door to workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities, and stands out to future employers.

Have an offer on the table? If you're negotiating a higher salary in your animator position, always let the company offer first. If they ask what range of pay you're expecting, reverse the question by asking, "What's budgeted for this role?" so they have the chance to state a higher figure than your preferred salary. If they don't, make a counter-offer ranging between 5 and 10%, and never accept the first "no." Rejecting the first offer is standard practice for many companies, so stay persistent. If you're already in an established position, demonstrate what you've brought to the role in the past year using solid evidence, such as expense reports or positive reviews.