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Animator Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

Salary: $88K-$120K At Ember Lab, our goal is to create powerful, transformative experiences that ... As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations.

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... The base salary range for locations outside of the U.S. will be adjusted according to location. At ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA · On-site

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations ... The base salary range for locations outside of the U.S. will be adjusted according to location. At ...

ZeniMax Media

Animator (First-Person)

Rockville, MD · On-site

$70K - $155K/yr

Salary Range Animator (First-Person) - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of ... employment is expected to be between $70,000 - $155,000 per year. ZeniMax has different base pay ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand ... Competitive Salary with Stock Options * An open/unlimited Paid Time Off and Vacation Policy * Great ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand ... Competitive Salary with Stock Options * An open/unlimited Paid Time Off and Vacation Policy * Great ...

loyalkaspar

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY

$116K - $132K/yr

Loyalkaspar is on the lookout for a Senior Designer / Animator to help across teams and projects ... ASAP, 2016 Salary with full benefits Please email cover letter, resume, and portfolio to: meredithm ...

loyalkaspar

Senior Designer / Animator

New York, NY · On-site

$116K - $132K/yr

Loyalkaspar is on the lookout for a Senior Designer / Animator to help across teams and projects ... ASAP, 2016 • Salary with full benefits Please email cover letter, resume, and portfolio to ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$88K - $94K/yr

From AI-enhanced storytelling to scroll-stopping animations, this role is at the cutting edge of ... The base salary for this role is between $88,000 - $94,000. The actual base pay offered is ...

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Animator Salary information

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$10

$39

$70

How much do animator salary jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for animator salary in the United States is $39.41, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.88 and $63.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Disney Animator's salary?

A Disney animator's salary typically ranges from $60,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, skill level, and location. Entry-level animators may earn less, while experienced professionals with specialized skills or senior roles can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with benefits and bonuses.

What animation job pays the most?

Senior roles such as Lead Animator, Animation Director, or VFX Supervisor tend to have the highest salaries in the animation industry, often exceeding six figures. These positions require extensive experience, strong leadership skills, and proficiency with industry-standard tools like Maya or Blender.

Is 25 too late to learn animation?

Animator careers can be started at any age, and many successful animators begin learning in their twenties or later. Developing skills in animation software and building a portfolio are key steps, regardless of age, and continuous learning is common in the industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Animator, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animator, you need strong artistic ability, a solid understanding of movement and timing, and proficiency with animation principles, often supported by a degree in animation, graphic design, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Blender is typically required, and certifications in these tools can be advantageous. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are valuable soft skills that help animators collaborate and bring stories to life. These skills ensure high-quality, visually compelling animations that meet client or project requirements in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges animators face when working on collaborative projects?

Animators often work closely with artists, writers, and technical teams, which can present challenges such as aligning creative visions, meeting tight production deadlines, and adapting to feedback from multiple stakeholders. Effective communication and flexibility are key to ensuring that the animation fits seamlessly with other project elements. Additionally, animators may need to quickly learn new software or techniques to stay current with industry standards and project requirements.

Do animators make good money?

Animator salaries vary based on experience, location, and industry, but the median annual wage in many regions is around $70,000. Skilled animators proficient in software like Adobe After Effects or Maya and with a strong portfolio tend to earn higher salaries, especially in entertainment or gaming sectors.

What is the average salary of an animator?

The average salary of an animator varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and industry. In the United States, entry-level animators can expect to earn around $50,000 per year, while experienced professionals may earn upwards of $75,000 or more. Salaries can be higher at major studios or in cities with a strong entertainment industry presence. Freelance animators may have variable earnings based on project volume and client rates.

What is the difference between Animator Salary vs Video Game Designer Salary?

AspectAnimator SalaryVideo Game Designer Salary
Required CredentialsPortfolio, Animation skills, sometimes a degree in animation or related fieldGame design degree, portfolio, programming skills
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, film, advertising, gamingGame studios, tech companies, freelance
Industry UsageUsed in entertainment, advertising, gamingPrimarily in gaming industry, also in interactive media

Animator salaries and video game designer salaries share similarities in required skills and work environments, especially within the gaming industry. However, animators focus on creating visual content, while game designers develop gameplay concepts and mechanics. Both roles are vital in game development and often overlap, but their salary differences reflect their distinct responsibilities and skill sets.

More about Animator Salary jobs
What cities are hiring for Animator Salary jobs? Cities with the most Animator Salary job openings:
What states have the most Animator Salary jobs? States with the most job openings for Animator Salary jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animator Salary jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animator Salary jobs are:
Animator Salary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animator Salary job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Creature Animator (Outsourcing)

ZeniMax Media

Rockville, MD • On-site

$70K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Overview
Come join Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning development team behind Starfield, The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by providing competitive salaries, a generous benefits program, and offices located in some of North America's best cities.
With a goal of creating a culture as fun and diverse as our games and our players, we welcome applicants with unique skillsets, experience levels and backgrounds. If you are passionate about making a meaningful contribution to some of the most significant games in the industry we'd love to hear from you!
We will consider candidates for our Bethesda Game Studios location in Rockville, MD.
Responsibilities
Your Daily Life at Bethesda Game Studios
Bethesda Game Studios is looking for an exceptional Creature Animator (Outsourcing) to support creature animation work produced both internally and by external partners, while collaborating closely with artists, programmers, designers, and producers. This role is primarily focused on working with outsourced animation teams, reviewing their work, and ensuring quality and consistency across all delivered assets.
As Creature Animator (Outsourcing), you will...
  • Apply animation principles to evaluate, refine, and ensure the quality of creature animations
  • Work in collaboration with members of the team to address animation needs and requirements for cinematic content and gameplay
  • Partner closely with external animation teams by reviewing outsourced creature animation assets, providing clear, actionable, and technically detailed feedback, and ensuring all delivered work meets Bethesda Game Studios' quality bar
  • Serve as a primary point of support for outsourced creature animation, helping to identify issues, articulate improvements, and maintain a consistent creative vision across teams
  • Actively engage with developers outside of your discipline, creating a positive and productive experience for all involved
  • Assist and provide constructive feedback to other animators
  • Consistently integrate and maintain your work in the game
  • Have opportunities to animate creatures directly, while not being solely focused on hands-on animation full-time
Qualifications
What Makes You S.P.E.C.I.A.L.
  • You have 3+ years of professional or related experience as a Creature Animator
  • You possess outstanding animation skills, displaying a strong understanding of animation principles and the ability to critically evaluate and articulate feedback on animation quality
  • You are detail-oriented and have a strong critical eye
  • You are a highly autonomous, self-motivated team player, comfortable working independently while supporting broader team goals
  • You're great at adapting to change and accept constructive feedback well
  • You possess excellent problem-solving and prototyping skills
  • You have excellent oral and written communication skills, particularly when collaborating with external partners
  • You are proficient working with Maya, 3ds Max or Blender
  • You have a passion for gaming and making GREAT games
  • You are passionate about pushing animation quality to the next level
Preferred Skills
Bonus Skills:
  • You have experience animating on first- and third-person focused games
  • You have animation graph experience
  • You have experience working with motion capture in either Maya or Motion Builder
  • You have experience working closely with AI programmers and Gameplay programmers, understanding the technicalities of game AI and game functionality

Salary Range
Creature Animator (Outsourcing) - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $70,000 - $155,000 per year.
ZeniMax has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States, which allows us to pay employees competitively and consistently in different geographic markets. The range above reflects the potential base pay across the U.S. for this role; the applicable base pay range will depend on what ultimately is determined to be the candidate's primary work location. Individual base pay depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time.
At ZeniMax certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, such as merit increases and discretionary bonuses. These awards are allocated based on individual performance and are not guaranteed. Benefits/perks listed here may vary depending on the nature of employment with ZeniMax and the country work location. U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellbeing benefits, paid vacation time, paid sick and mental health time, and several paid holidays, among others.
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