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Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

Twine

3D Animator - Freelance Project

Manhattan, NY · Remote

The animation will bring the speakers to life visually, emphasizing the richness, depth, and clarity of the device's audio performance. The final output will be used in marketing materials ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA

$129K - $148K/yr

Drive animation performance without pushing out of a believable and realistic style; your hand-keyed work will fit seamlessly with motion capture * Join forces with designers and engineers to create ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with the experience and passion to drive our gameplay mechanics to the next level. You'll play a key role in defining how our characters move, respond ...

VG Systems

Animator / 3-D Modeler

Huntsville, AL · On-site

VG Systems, LLC is seeking a highly skilled Animator / 3-D Modeler to support the development of high-quality visual content for mission-driven initiatives. This role is responsible for creating ...

Blue Rose Studios

Be Seen First

Volunteer 2D Game Character Animator

Norwood, OH · Remote

I am looking for a volunteer animator to help create 2D character animations including idle, walk cycles, breathing, and reaction poses, as well as small environmental and atmospheric animations. The ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with the experience and passion to drive our gameplay mechanics to the next level. You'll play a key role in defining how our characters move, respond ...

VG Systems

Animator / 3-D Modeler

Huntsville, AL · On-site

VG Systems, LLC is seeking a highly skilled Animator / 3-D Modeler to support the development of high-quality visual content for mission-driven initiatives. This role is responsible for creating ...

Velan Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior+/Lead)

Troy, NY · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with the experience and passion to drive our gameplay mechanics to the next level. You'll play a key role in defining how our characters move, respond ...

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Animator information

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$10

$39

$70

How much do animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for animator 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 Do Animators Do?

Animators create moving images for television, movies, video games, websites, multimedia platforms, and other forms of media. As an animator, your duties are to design illustrations to match characters and settings described in scripts. Sometimes an animator comes up with a new character before developing a script or role for it, while other times animators work closely with writers to collaborate on character development. After the creation stage, your responsibilities shift to rendering the image for whatever medium you work in, such as feature-length computer animated films or short graphic descriptions of news for an online magazine.

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 motion, timing, and storytelling, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency in animation software such as Adobe After Effects, Autodesk Maya, or Blender, and familiarity with digital drawing tablets are typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help animators collaborate well and bring ideas to life. These skills are vital for producing high-quality, engaging animations that meet project goals and client expectations.

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

Animators often collaborate with teams of artists, directors, and sound designers, which can present challenges such as maintaining consistent visual style and meeting tight production deadlines. Communication is key, as feedback and revisions are frequent, requiring adaptability and strong interpersonal skills. Additionally, animators need to be proficient in various software and workflows to ensure their work integrates smoothly with other departments, such as modeling or lighting. Balancing creative vision with technical requirements is a common aspect of the role.

What does an animator do?

An animator is a creative professional who designs and creates moving images for films, television, video games, and other forms of media. They use computer software or traditional hand-drawn techniques to bring characters, objects, and scenes to life. Animators often work closely with other artists, directors, and writers to ensure their animations fit the vision of a project. Their work involves storyboarding, character design, and creating sequences that convey emotion and action. Attention to detail and a strong understanding of movement are essential skills for animators.

What jobs can animators do?

Animators can work in various fields such as film, television, video game development, advertising, and online media. They create visual content using tools like Adobe After Effects, Maya, or Blender and often collaborate with designers, directors, and clients to produce animated sequences or characters.

What is the difference between Animator vs 3D Modeler?

AspectAnimator3D Modeler
Required CredentialsAnimation courses, portfolio3D modeling courses, portfolio
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game companiesDesign studios, game development
Industry UsageBrings characters to life through movementCreates 3D assets and models

While both roles work closely in the animation and gaming industries, an Animator focuses on bringing characters and objects to life through movement, whereas a 3D Modeler specializes in creating the detailed 3D models used in animations and games. Both require similar technical skills and often collaborate on projects, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

More about Animator jobs
What cities are hiring for Animator jobs? Cities with the most Animator job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animator jobs? The most popular types of Animator jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Animator jobs? The top employers for Animator jobs are:
What states have the most Animator jobs? States with the most job openings for Animator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Animator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Animator jobs are:
Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animator job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% Internship, 74% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 87% In-person, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.
Character Animator - Generative AI Experiences Software

Character Animator - Generative AI Experiences Software

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

Apple rating

8.1

Company rating: 8.1 out of 10

Based on 661 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

6th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

At Apple, we strive to make great products that empower people and improve their lives. We are looking for a great Character Animator to join our diverse team of engineers, artists and designers and help us take our state of the art character animation systems to the next level. This position focuses on creating high-quality, stylized character animation with emphasis on creative expression, performance, and facial animation to push the limits of the next generation of interactive computing.
This role requires a deep understanding of animation artistry, technical proficiency in Maya, and the ability to work within real-time constraints while maintaining high creative standards.
Solid grasp on the traditional principles of animationExperience in expressive facial animationExpert level of knowledge of Autodesk MayaUnderstanding of technical constraints in real-time environmentsGreat at providing and receiving feedbackEnsure animations run efficiently across target platforms and use cases, both real time with frame rate budgets and non-real time
USD format and workflow familiarityExperience with procedural animation techniquesMotion capture cleanup and performance enhancement experienceExperience with real-time game engines (Unity, Unreal, or proprietary engines)Experience with non-linear animation systems, animation statemachines and/or motion matching techniques.Skilled in modeling and rigging is a plus

What Apple employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apple logo

About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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