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Illustrator Animation Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

QA Graphics

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Vector/SVG Production Designer

Ankeny, IA · On-site

$22 - $25/hr

Technical illustration * Icon design * Color management * Gradient and shading control * AI, SVG, EPS, PDF, and DXF file handling * Adobe Photoshop experience * HTML5 or SVG animation experience

COMPETITION MOTORSPORT

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Creative Assistant - Digital Content & Social Media

West Des Moines, IA · On-site

$40K - $44K/yr

Use AI-generation tools, including Higgsfield, to help develop video concepts, animations, visual ... Experience using Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After ...

New

COMPETITION MOTORSPORT

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Creative Assistant - Digital Content & Social Media

West Des Moines, IA · On-site

$40K - $44K/yr

Use AI-generation tools, including Higgsfield, to help develop video concepts, animations, visual ... Experience using Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, and After ...

New

All JobsIllustrator Animation JobsIllustrator Animation Jobs in Iowa

Illustrator Animation information

See Iowa salary details

$30.5K

$55.7K

$90.2K

How much do illustrator animation jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for illustrator animation in Iowa is $55,741.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36,200.00 and $63,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as an Illustrator Animator, you need strong artistic ability, a solid understanding of visual storytelling, and proficiency in illustration and animation principles, often supported by a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and animation tools like Toon Boom or Blender is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are essential soft skills that help bring concepts to life and facilitate collaboration with clients and teams. These competencies ensure high-quality, engaging animations that effectively communicate ideas and meet project goals.

Can an Illustrator be an animator?

An Illustrator can become an animator by learning animation techniques, software such as Adobe After Effects or Toon Boom, and gaining experience in motion design. Many professionals transition from illustration to animation to create moving visuals for various media. Having a strong foundation in drawing and design is beneficial for both roles.

What is the difference between Illustrator Animation vs Graphic Designer?

AspectIllustrator AnimationGraphic Designer
CredentialsTypically requires skills in illustration, animation software, and design principlesRequires skills in visual communication, layout, and design software
Work EnvironmentOften works in animation studios, media companies, or freelanceWorks in advertising agencies, corporate branding, or print/digital media
Industry UsageUsed for animated videos, character design, and multimedia projectsUsed for branding, marketing materials, and visual identity

Illustrator Animation focuses on creating animated visuals and characters, combining illustration skills with animation techniques. Graphic Designers primarily develop static visual content for branding, advertising, and print. While both roles require strong design skills, Illustrator Animation emphasizes motion and storytelling through animation, whereas Graphic Design centers on visual communication in static formats.

How do Illustrator Animation professionals typically collaborate with other team members during a project?

Illustrator Animation professionals often work closely with animators, art directors, and project managers to bring visual concepts to life. Collaboration usually involves regular meetings to discuss style guides, storyboards, and animation sequences. Effective communication and feedback are key, as illustrators may need to adjust artwork based on animation requirements or client input. This collaborative environment helps ensure that the final animated product is cohesive and aligns with the project’s creative vision.

Is AI taking animators jobs?

AI technology is increasingly used in animation to assist with tasks like automating repetitive processes and generating backgrounds, but it does not replace the need for skilled illustrators and animators. Human creativity, storytelling, and artistic judgment remain essential in producing high-quality animations, and many roles involve overseeing AI tools rather than being replaced by them.

What is the salary of Illustrator and animator?

The average salary for an illustrator and animator varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $40,000 to $80,000 annually. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced professionals with specialized skills or software proficiency can earn higher salaries, especially in creative or media companies.

What does an illustrator animator do?

An illustrator animator creates visual content by designing and drawing characters, environments, and objects, then bringing them to life through animation techniques. They combine their artistic skills with animation software to produce engaging sequences for films, games, advertisements, or digital media. This role often involves collaborating with writers, directors, and other artists to interpret ideas and deliver a cohesive visual story.

What kind of jobs can you get with an illustration and animation degree?

With an illustration and animation degree, you can pursue roles such as animator, storyboard artist, character designer, concept artist, or visual development artist. These jobs often require proficiency in tools like Adobe Creative Suite and animation software, and may involve working in entertainment, advertising, gaming, or publishing industries.
What are popular job titles related to Illustrator Animation jobs in Iowa? For Illustrator Animation jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Illustrator Animation jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Illustrator Animation jobs in Iowa are:
What cities in Iowa are hiring for Illustrator Animation jobs? Cities in Iowa with the most Illustrator Animation job openings:
Illustrator Animation jobs near you
Vector/SVG Production Designer

Vector/SVG Production Designer

QA Graphics

Ankeny, IA • On-site

$22 - $25/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

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Job description

Opportunity

QA Graphics is looking for a Vector/SVG Production Designer to join our in house creative team in Ankeny, Iowa.

This is a production focused design role for someone with strong Adobe Illustrator skills, clean vector artwork ability, and excellent attention to detail. The right person does not need years of industry experience, but they do need the ability to follow standards, work from reference images, learn quickly, and produce consistent artwork.

This is not a general creative design position. The focus is technical vector production, clean SVG artwork, file quality, consistency, and repeatable output.

QA Graphics specializes in visual design for the building automation industry. Our team creates system graphics, floor plan graphics, 3D graphics, equipment graphics, animations, and related visual solutions used by contractors, engineers, facility teams, and building owners.

This full time position is available immediately and will be located at QA Graphics’ office in Ankeny, Iowa.

Company

QA Graphics is a leader in the building automation industry. The company specializes in HVAC graphic development services, system graphics, floor plan graphics, 3D graphics, animation, and related visual solutions.

All core production work is completed in house by our team in Iowa. We do not outsource our graphic production work.

Visit www.qagraphics.com to learn more.

Responsibilities and Duties

The Vector/SVG Production Designer will work with our design team to create clean, accurate, and consistent vector assets.

  • Create vector artwork from reference images, screenshots, drawings, and other source material
  • Manually trace and recreate artwork using Adobe Illustrator
  • Build clean, scalable SVG artwork
  • Maintain a consistent visual style across large groups of assets
  • Organize files with clean layers, naming, and artboard structure
  • Optimize SVG files for quality and performance
  • Follow established QA Graphics file setup, naming, and production standards
  • Make revisions based on team feedback
  • Maintain organized project files and meet assigned deadlines
  • Work in a structured, team based production environment

Qualifications

  • Strong Adobe Illustrator skills required
  • Strong vector illustration ability
  • Experience with manual vector tracing
  • Experience creating or exporting SVG files
  • Strong Pen Tool and Bezier curve skills
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to follow standards and repeat a consistent process
  • Ability to work from reference images
  • Good organization and time management skills
  • Ability to take feedback and apply it consistently
  • Entry level candidates will be considered if they have a strong portfolio
  • Must be able to work in person at our Ankeny, Iowa office

Additional Desired Skills

  • SVG file optimization
  • Raster to vector conversion
  • Technical illustration
  • Icon design
  • Color management
  • Gradient and shading control
  • AI, SVG, EPS, PDF, and DXF file handling
  • Adobe Photoshop experience
  • HTML5 or SVG animation experience
  • Experience with detailed production artwork
  • Experience with 3D reference workflows is helpful but not required

Not the Main Focus

This position is not primarily focused on logo design, brand identity, marketing graphics, web design, motion graphics, or 3D modeling.

The priority is clean production artwork, technical accuracy, SVG cleanup, and consistent vector library development.

Compensation

Pay is determined based on experience and portfolio quality. Entry level candidates will be considered.

QA Graphics offers full benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with matching, paid time off, and both long term and short term insurance.

Company Description

QA Graphics is a full-service outsourcing company, providing custom HVAC system graphics, as well as design services for interactive platforms. We help clients visualize their needs and simply their lives. Our talented designers come form a wide range of backgrounds to provide the personal attention and expertise needed to being our clients’ ideas to life.