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Graduate Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs incluuding Film and Television, Animation, Creative Producing, Documentary, and Screenwriting on the Loop ...

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Graduate Animator information

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$39

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How much do graduate animator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for graduate 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 types of projects and responsibilities can a Graduate Animator expect in their first role?

As a Graduate Animator, you can expect to work on a variety of tasks, such as creating character animations, developing storyboards, refining motion graphics, or assisting with visual effects for TV shows, commercials, games, or online content. Entry-level roles often involve collaborating closely with senior animators, designers, and other creative professionals to support larger projects and learn best practices. You may also participate in team meetings, present your ideas, and revise your work based on constructive feedback. This hands-on experience helps build your professional portfolio and deepens your understanding of industry workflows, positioning you for future career growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Graduate Animator position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Graduate Animator, you need a solid understanding of animation fundamentals, creative storytelling, and a relevant degree or diploma in animation or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Adobe After Effects, Maya, Blender, or Toon Boom is typically required, along with a strong portfolio demonstrating your work. Attention to detail, time management, and effective communication are key soft skills that help you excel in collaborative production environments. These abilities are crucial for producing high-quality animations, meeting project deadlines, and integrating feedback from clients and team members.

What is a Graduate Animator job?

A Graduate Animator is an entry-level role for recent graduates looking to start a career in animation. They typically assist in creating animations, storyboarding, and refining character movements under the guidance of senior animators. This role provides hands-on experience with industry-standard software and workflows while developing key skills in 2D or 3D animation. Graduate Animators often work in film, television, advertising, or gaming companies. It's a great opportunity to build a portfolio and gain industry exposure for future career growth.

More about Graduate Animator jobs
What cities are hiring for Graduate Animator jobs? Cities with the most Graduate Animator job openings:
What states have the most Graduate Animator jobs? States with the most job openings for Graduate Animator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Graduate Animator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Graduate Animator jobs are:
Infographic showing various Graduate Animator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% As Needed, 1% Full Time, 6% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 71% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,974 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Senior Specialist, Creative Services

L3HHCM20

Rochester, NY • On-site, Remote

$84K - $156K/yr

Other

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Senior Specialist, Creative Services

Job Code: 39969

Job Location: Melbourne, FL; Rochester, NY; or Remote Opportunity

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days - totaling 80 hours worked - and have every other Friday off

Job Description:

L3Harris is seeking a Senior 3D Animator for its in-house Creative Services team. The role creates 3D renders and animations and edits them into finished video for marketing, customer engagements, events, and internal communications. The animator works independently from creative brief through final delivery, translating engineering and technical subject matter into clear visual content that holds to company brand standards.

Essential Functions:

  • Conceive, model, light, and render professional three-dimensional (3D) animations that visualize products, systems, and capabilities for marketing, customer engagements, trade shows, and internal communications.
  • Edit and finish video, combining animation, live footage, motion graphics, audio, and titling into a polished piece that carries a clear narrative from open to close.
  • Translate technical and engineering subject matter into accurate, accessible visual stories, partnering with engineers and program teams to get the details right.
  • Apply artificial intelligence (AI) tools where they improve quality or speed, incorporating them into the animation and video workflow in line with company policy and security requirements.
  • Carry projects independently from creative brief through delivery, managing your own timelines, files, and revisions while keeping stakeholders informed at the right moments.
  • Apply brand standards consistently across every deliverable, keeping color, type, motion, and tone aligned with the company identity, so the work reads as one voice.
  • Collaborate with creative peers, marketing and communications stakeholders, and program leads, incorporating feedback while protecting the quality and intent of the work.
  • Maintain organized project files, render pipelines, and asset libraries so work is repeatable, reusable, and easy for the team to pick up.
  • Travel up to ten percent (10%) may be required to support events, shoots, and on-site production.
  • Mentor junior creative staff on 3D and video technique where the opportunity arises and contribute to a studio culture that takes pride in its craft.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree and minimum 6 years of prior relevant experience. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

  • Experience producing finished 3D renders and animations and editing them into completed video deliverables, demonstrated through a portfolio or reel.
  • This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. security clearance; U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a clearance.
  • Fluency in industry-standard 3D and animation software such as Cinema 4D, Unreal Engine 5, Blender, Autodesk Maya, or 3ds Max, along with rendering tools such as Redshift, Octane, or Arnold.
  • Extensive knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud for editing and finishing, particularly After Effects and Premiere Pro, with comfort moving assets between motion and edit.
  • Skilled in color grading, sound design, and compositing to finish a piece to broadcast quality.
  • Experience with motion graphics and 2D animation to complement 3D work.
  • Experience with virtual production pipelines.
  • Familiarity working from computer-aided design (CAD) data or engineering models as source material for animation.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Washington, and the Greater D.C, Denver, or NYC areas is $84,000-$156,000. The salary range for this role in Colorado state, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York state, and Vermont is $73,000-$135,000. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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