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Senior Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Thatgamecompany

Animator (Mid-Senior)

$78K - $127K/yr

Animator (Mid-Senior) An active portfolio/reel link is required to be considered for this role. Role Overview The primary function for this role as animator is to hand-key animation assets, implement ...

thatgamecompany

Animator (Mid-Senior)

Los Angeles, CA · Remote

$78K - $127K/yr

Animator (Mid-Senior) An active portfolio/reel link is required to be considered for this role. Role Overview The primary function for this role as animator is to hand-key animation assets, implement ...

Half Mermaid Productions

Senior Gameplay Animator

Brooklyn, NY · On-site +1

$80K - $100K/yr

Work With Us on Project D████ We are looking for an experienced and talented Senior Gameplay Animator to join the development effort on our exciting new game "Project D." The project is a ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Gameplay Animator (Locomotion)

Boston, MA · On-site +1

$115K - $131K/yr

CD PROJEKT RED is looking for a Senior Gameplay Animator with a focus on locomotion to join our Boston hub and the team working on Cyberpunk 2, the next mainline Cyberpunk 2077 game. As a hands-on ...

IGT

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts from concept to final implementation, establishing the visual tone and quality standards for groundbreaking gaming experiences while ...

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 ...

Progressive Gaming

Animator IV

Reno, NV · On-site +1

$105K - $120K/yr

In this senior-level role, you will lead animation efforts from concept to final implementation, establishing the visual tone and quality standards for groundbreaking gaming experiences while ...

Spinplay Games

Senior Technical Animator

Las Vegas, NV · On-site +1

$101K - $115K/yr

SpinPlay Games is looking for a Technical Animator who enjoys solving technical challenges just as much as creating exceptional animation. This role sits at the intersection of art, design, and ...

New

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 ...

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 ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$112K - $128K/yr

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position requires an experienced creative executive with a proven ability to manage projects across ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$112K - $128K/yr

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position requires an experienced creative executive with a proven ability to manage projects across ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$150 - $210/hr

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position requires an experienced creative executive with a proven ability to manage projects across ...

Mattel

Sr Manager, TV Animation

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$112K - $128K/yr

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Mattel Studios Animation Creative (Adult & Four-Quad), this position requires an experienced creative executive with a proven ability to manage projects across ...

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Senior Animator information

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$77K

$112.7K

$122K

How much do senior animator jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior animator in the United States is $112,707.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,000.00 and $121,000.00 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 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.

Is being a senior animator a high paying job?

Senior animators typically earn higher salaries than entry-level animators, with compensation often reflecting experience, skill level, and industry demand. In general, senior roles in animation can offer competitive pay, especially for those skilled in advanced techniques and software such as Maya or Adobe After Effects. However, salaries vary based on location, employer, and project scope.

Is there a high demand for senior animators?

Senior animators are in high demand across industries such as film, gaming, and advertising due to the need for experienced professionals skilled in software like Maya, Blender, or Adobe After Effects. The job market for senior roles is expected to grow as companies prioritize high-quality visual content and innovative animation techniques.

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.

More about Senior Animator jobs
What cities are hiring for Senior Animator jobs? Cities with the most Senior 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 Senior Animator jobs? The top employers for Senior Animator jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Animator jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Animator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Senior Animator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Senior Animator jobs are:
Senior Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Animator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 73% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 73% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 22% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,707 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Animator (Mid-Senior)

Thatgamecompany

Remote

$78K - $127K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Animator (Mid-Senior)
An active portfolio/reel link is required to be considered for this role.
Role Overview
The primary function for this role as animator is to hand-key animation assets, implement them into the proprietary game editor, and test the implementation of these animations in the game. Because we are a small team, secondary functions may include tasks such as ideation, conceptualization, pre-vis, playtesting, reporting bugs, and fixing bugs.
Responsibilities
  • Hand keying in-game animation assets for humanoid and quadrupeds in Autodesk Maya and exporting assets using Maya's game exporter
  • Submission of assets using Perforce version control software
  • Implement animations into the proprietary game engine
  • Testing to ensure game assets are working correctly in-game
  • Pre-vis style animations for proof of concepts to be used as visual representations of gameplay ideas and intentions
  • Collaborate closely with other departments to achieve goals and solve problems. These departments may include Engineering, Gameplay, Visdev, Tech Anim and 3D Art

Qualifications and skills
  • Experience: Minimum 3 to 5 years professional experience in animation - film, tv and or game dev.
  • Animation Principles: Strong understanding of foundational animation principles (e.g., squash and stretch, anticipation, follow-through)
  • Software proficiency: Autodesk Maya.
  • Software Experience: Perforce, VS Code, Unreal Engine, Unity Engine, Figma, Google Suite, Jira, Confluence, Slack, Sync Sketch, Photoshop, and any kind of film editing software such as Premiere.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the capability to explain concepts and ideas to animators as well as non-animators

Nice-to-Haves:
  • A passionate Gamer
  • Human Anatomy & Animal Anatomy knowledge
  • Strive to create a gaming experience that brings a positive impact to the gaming world
  • Experience in creating a game from the ground up
  • Character Rigging and Scripting
  • Traditional art skills such as drawing and sketching
  • Ability to draw storyboards
  • Interested in ancient human civilization
  • Experience with or knowledge of coding languages such as C++, Python, MEL, etc.

Perks:
• Paid Time Off, Holidays, and Two Weeks Winter Break
• Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job-there's no waiting period before they kick in.
• Pet Insurance for those who need it too.
• Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
• Pre-tax wellness stipend
• Pre-tax work from home stipend
• Access our savings plan (401K program) with company match
• Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (CCA)
• Discount portal for everyday goods and services
• Employee inclusive and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together
• Support for personal professional development
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S or Canada. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.
The salary range for this position is $78,500USD to $127,800 USD annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on the Company's compensation practices.
Employees in this position are eligible to participate in the Company's standard employee benefit programs, which currently include the following: medical, dental, vision, 401k, and paid time off.
Our base pay is benchmarked against regional market and industry data and is adjusted to reflect the cost of living in your specific geographic area.
We look forward to meeting you!
#LI-Remote

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