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Assistant Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Madison College

PT Instructor Pool - Animation

Madison, WI · On-site

$16.75 - $22/hr

... Assist and advise students who have problems with assignments, tests, grades, course content ... OR 1. Associate's degree in Animation or a related field. 2. Eight (8) years or 16,000 hours of ...

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How much do assistant animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for assistant 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Assistant Animator position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Animator, strong foundational skills in animation principles, attention to detail, and a relevant degree or coursework in animation or a related field are essential. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Toon Boom Harmony, or Autodesk Maya is typically required, and a robust portfolio can be an advantage. Excellent teamwork, communication, and time management skills are important for collaborating effectively and meeting production deadlines. These competencies ensure smooth workflow, high-quality output, and alignment with creative direction in animation projects.

What does an Assistant Animator do?

An Assistant Animator supports the animation team by creating in-between frames, cleaning up rough drawings, and ensuring smooth transitions between keyframes. They assist with character and background animations, maintain consistency in design, and often work with software like Adobe Animate, Toon Boom, or Blender. Additionally, they may help with organizing assets, rendering scenes, and making minor adjustments as directed by senior animators. Their role is crucial in streamlining the production workflow and maintaining high-quality animation standards.

What are typical daily responsibilities for an Assistant Animator?

As an Assistant Animator, your daily responsibilities often include creating and cleaning up animation frames, assisting with motion adjustments, preparing files for senior animators, and ensuring assets are correctly formatted and organized. You may work closely with animators, storyboard artists, and production staff to integrate feedback and make revisions quickly. The role typically involves following creative guidelines, sticking to tight deadlines, and troubleshooting technical or artistic issues as they arise. This hands-on, collaborative environment provides valuable experience and helps prepare you for more advanced animation roles in the future.

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Assistant Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Assistant Animator job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.
Assistant Professor of Practice - Emerging Media Arts: Animation

Assistant Professor of Practice - Emerging Media Arts: Animation

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE • On-site

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Position Information
Position Information
Working Title
Assistant Professor of Practice - Emerging Media Arts: Animation
Department
Johnny Carson School-Theatre & Film-1033
Requisition Number
F_250088
Posting Open Date
12/11/2025
Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date)
03/02/2026
Posting Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Description of Work
Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Practice - Emerging Media Arts: Animation and Rigging to join our unique program.
We seek a creative individual with strong dedication to craft, technical expertise, and professional agility in a constantly changing field. We welcome applicants with backgrounds in film, television, game production, or gallery/museum installations. The successful candidate will have advanced experience in 3D animation workflows (film, television, games) and/or rigging, ideally with supplemental familiarity with game engines, and/or motion capture, and be able to creatively integrate traditional techniques with emerging technologies and platforms.
This position involves teaching courses in 3D Animation, Rigging, Motion Capture, and Game Engines. The ideal candidate will be a dynamic artist/teacher who is committed to training and inspiring the next generation of emerging media artists and storytellers.
The Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts is an interdisciplinary center and creative research facility within the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film, established with a $57M investment from the Johnny Carson Foundation. Research areas include filmmaking, interactive and immersive storytelling, experience and generative design, XR, machine learning, sonic and data arts, virtual production, and innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Carson Center brings together world-class faculty and students to reimagine the future of media through inclusive, imaginative storytelling that addresses human-scale challenges, provokes and inspires. As the Center expands its international reach and collaborations, this is a unique opportunity to shape its growing mission.
Nebraska offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate's background and experience. Faculty status with opportunities for promotion in rank and sabbatical opportunities for continued learning and professional development are additional key benefits. This position comes with resources to support innovative teaching and creative practice.
Key Responsibilities
  • Teach courses in 3D Animation, Rigging, Introduction to Game Engines, Motion Capture for Real-time Performance, and others as needed.
  • Collaborate with faculty to develop new courses and curriculum with a focus towards interdisciplinarity.
  • Provide mentorship to students.
  • Recruit artist/industry partners and assist students transitioning into their careers.
  • Remain agile and keep current with advancements in 3D animation, rigging, motion capture, game engine technologies, AI, and creative applications.

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. See https://equity.unl.edu/notice-nondiscrimination/.
Minimum Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree with at least five years of professional experience in 3D animation and/or rigging for film, television, games, or live performance workflows.
  • Working career as an animator/artist represented through a body of work that has received theatrical, network, or streaming exhibition and/or national/international festival recognition.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Master's degree in an equivalent arts-related field; OR in exceptional cases, significant professional credentials and experience in lieu of a terminal degree.
  • Experience with game engines (Unity or Unreal) or other real-time performance systems.
  • Experience in custom rigging for 3D animation and/or games.
  • Experience with emerging forms of digital animation workflows, including AI and Machine Learning.
  • Proficiencies in languages such as MEL (PyMEL), Python, C++, or C#.
  • University teaching experience above the teaching assistant level; or equivalent experience in a non-university setting (Animation Mentor, Gnomon, VFS, etc.).
  • A strong network of contacts with other industry professionals and employers.
  • Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and the ability to stay at the edge of industry developments.

Work Location (City, State)
Lincoln, NE
Pre-Placement Driving Record Review Required
Criminal History Background Check Required
No
Posted Salary
How to Apply
Click "Apply for this Job," complete the faculty information form, and submit the following required documents:
  1. A letter of interest addressing your qualifications specific to this job description.
  2. A current Curriculum Vitae.
  3. Teaching statement (1-2 pages). Attach as "Other Document."
  4. A link to an online portfolio of work.
  5. The names and contact details of three professional references.

For questions or accommodations related to this position contact
Shelby Foged
shelby.foged@unl.edu
Job Category
Job Category (old)
Faculty Non-Tenure Leading
Job Type
9 Month
Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding?
No
If Temporary, indicate end date
Planned Hire Date
08/17/2026
Appointment End Date
Organizational Location
Default Location

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