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Senior Animator Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

2K Games

Senior Animator

Novato, CA

$90K - $135K/yr

Cloud Chamber is looking for a Senior Animator to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world. Your primary responsibility will be the creation of exemplary animations. We need you to set ...

2K Games

Senior Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Cloud Chamber is looking for a Senior Animator to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world. Your primary responsibility will be the creation of exemplary animations. We need you to set ...

Koto

Senior Animator

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$100K - $140K/yr

The Role You are an experienced animator and motion designer, relentlessly bringing ideas to life ... Generate and develop standout creative ideas in collaboration with senior creative leadership.

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

Cloud Chamber

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

2K

Senior Gameplay Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$124K - $142K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator at Cloud Chamber, you will be part of a remarkably talented team of animators who are tasked with breathing life into the world of BioShock. You will be responsible for ...

Ember Lab

Senior Gameplay Animator

Orange, CA

$88K - $120K/yr

As a Senior Gameplay Animator, you will conceptualize, design, develop and execute 3D animations. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

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. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

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. You will collaborate across teams to bring these animations and Ember Lab work to life! Description

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

Cloud Chamber

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · Remote

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

2K

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

Shipped multiple AAA titles as a Lead, Team Lead, or Senior Animator ideally utilizing Unreal Engine. * Deep knowledge of gameplay and AI animation systems, animation graph/data integration, motion ...

Bonfire Studios

Gameplay Animator (Senior/Principal)

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$113K - $129K/yr

We're looking for a Senior/Principal Animator who understands that every frame communicates something: timing, weight, threat, opportunity. You'll help define the animation language of a competitive ...

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 ...

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Senior Animator information

See California salary details

$76K

$111.2K

$120.4K

How much do senior animator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior animator in California is $111,231.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,600.00 and $119,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior animator?

A Senior Animator is a highly skilled professional responsible for creating high-quality animations for films, video games, advertisements, or other media. They lead animation projects, collaborate with designers and directors, and ensure character movements and visual effects align with the creative vision. Senior Animators also mentor junior team members, refine animation workflows, and help maintain consistency in style and quality. Strong artistic ability, technical proficiency in animation software, and experience in storytelling are essential for this role.

What are the common responsibilities of a senior animator on a production team?

As a Senior Animator, you are responsible for creating high-quality animation sequences, collaborating closely with directors and other departments to achieve the project's visual style. You will review and provide feedback on the work of junior animators, help troubleshoot animation challenges, and participate in planning meetings. Daily tasks often include refining complex shots, ensuring animation consistency, and integrating feedback from supervisors. These responsibilities allow you to have a direct impact on the final product and support the overall creative direction of the team.

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

To thrive as a Senior Animator, you need advanced animation and storytelling skills, a strong portfolio, and typically a degree in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Adobe After Effects, and Toon Boom Harmony is essential, along with knowledge of the latest animation techniques and pipelines. Leadership, communication, and mentorship abilities help you collaborate effectively and guide junior animators. These skills ensure high-quality animation production, foster team growth, and support the creative vision of complex projects.

How much do senior animators make?

Senior animators typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have advanced skills in animation software like Maya or Adobe After Effects and may lead projects or teams.

What do senior animators do?

Senior animators create and oversee animated sequences for films, TV shows, video games, or advertisements, often leading a team of junior animators. They develop storyboards, design characters, and use software like Maya or Adobe Animate to produce high-quality animations, ensuring projects meet artistic and technical standards. They also collaborate with directors and clients to achieve the desired visual style and may be responsible for mentoring less experienced staff.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animator jobs in California?

The most popular types of Animator jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Senior Animator jobs in California?

For Senior Animator jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Animator jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Animator jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Senior Animator jobs?

Cities in California with the most Senior Animator job openings:

Senior Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Animator job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 89% Full Time, 6% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 64% Physical, 11% Hybrid, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,231 per year, or $53.5 per hour.

Senior Animator

2K Games

Novato, CA

$90K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Do you love inspiring others and tackling challenging assignments head on? Cloud Chamber is looking for a Senior Animator to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world. Your primary responsibility will be the creation of exemplary animations. We need you to set the standards that educate and inspire our team!

Job Details

You have experience working within cross-discipline strike teams on collaborative assignments. You are someone who sets an example for a positive collaborative process. You are self‐motivated, have great communication skills, and possess a great team‐player attitude! We're looking for someone who loves animation! Skills, Experience and Qualifications Shipped multiple AAA titles, ideally using Unreal or a comparable engine. Exemplary skills in keyframe stylized 3D animation.

Exceptional knowledge of how to create and maintain gameplay and AI systems in game engines as they pertain to video game animation. Excellent problem solving and debugging skills. A very strong understanding of character performance, form, gesture, and silhouette in regard to player character and AI. Excellent understanding of anatomy and caricature. Exceptional skill in animating the human bipedal figure, organic forms, quadrupedal, and mechanical objects.

An exemplary understanding of traditional animation principles and how they support and enhance gameplay. Experience working with Motion Capture data and editing it. Experience with hand key facial animation and tools such as FaceFx. Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. A love for research, reference, and documenting your findings to share with the team. Strong collaborative and flexible spirit.

Mentorship, coaching, and training experience is a bonus. We are Cloud Chamber: a collaborative team of inspired minds who create games together. We strive to make unique, entertaining, and thoughtful game experiences that engage the world. We believe in the beauty and strength of diversity, in both the makeup of the studio and the nature of our thinking. Our focus on open communication and overall well‐being allows each of us to strive for excellence in our work, and happiness in our lives.

If all of this sounds as exciting to you as it is to us, we'd love to meet you. Join us in creating worlds that move people. The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $90,000 and $135,000 per year. However, base pay offered is based on market location, and may vary further depending on individualized factors for job candidates, such as job‐related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations.

Subject to those same considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a bonus and/or equity awards, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

If hired, employee will be in an at‐will position and the company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

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