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Senior Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

New York, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · Hybrid

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

Hearst

Senior Social Editor & Animator

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$88K - $94K/yr

Be Part of What's Next Are you obsessed with the intersection of creativity, motion design, and what's trending on TikTok? We're looking for a Senior Social Editor & Animator to help shape the future ...

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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 Jun 28, 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 job?

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.

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 June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 4% As Needed, 87% Part Time, 7% Temporary, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,707 per year, or $54.2 per hour.

Senior Technical Animation Designer

31st Union

San Mateo, CA • On-site

$108K - $161K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago

Job description

WE ARE GAME MAKERS
Who We Are:
We are a diverse team of developers driven by a passion for our art, united by our core values and inspired by a culture of inclusivity to build amazing games that thrill players everywhere. We pursue growth and innovation in an environment of safety and trust. Our culture is built on the belief that the more varied voices in our collective will strengthen our team and our games. We are looking for our next teammate who will raise our bar and make us better.
What We Need:
We are looking for a Senior Technical Animation Designer to be responsible for designing, creating, and maintaining animation systems that drive the gameplay motion of our characters. This will include features that support major gameplay mechanics, such as locomotion and abilities, UI selection animations, and procedural solutions.
You will be a communication hub in addition to the technical aspect of the job. You'll need to ensure that everyone has the information they need to be successful. This role is focused on technical animation, but will also work with design and engineering teams to translate needs across those subject areas.
Who You Are:
  • Collaborate closely with teams across Animation, Engineering, and Design to help deliver a cohesive, high-quality animation style that supports an immersive gameplay experience.
  • Work with key stakeholders to define goals and implement scalable solutions that streamline animation content creation and integration.
  • Take initiative in building and refining animation systems, carefully balancing performance needs with desired in-game behaviors.
  • Provide and offer technical support and mentorship to animators, contributing to their development while promoting effective cross-disciplinary communication.
  • Regularly document processes and share insights to help improve team workflows and knowledge sharing.

What Will Make You a Great Fit:
  • Shipped at least one AAA title with 4+ years of professional animation experience in Maya
  • Strong understanding of third-person shooter mechanics and in-engine animation systems (state machines, blendspaces, animation graphs)
  • Proficient with run-time and procedural animation tools such as IK, Control Rig, retargeting, ragdolls, and motion matching
  • Experienced in Unreal Engine (2+ years), including scripting with Blueprints and/or C++, and solid foundation in vector math and code concepts.
  • Skilled at bridging disciplines with strong problem-solving and communication abilities.
  • Continuously up to date with the latest in Unreal, Maya, and animation technologies; portfolio demonstrating expertise.

The pay range for this position in California at the start of employment is expected to be between $108,900 and $161,160 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 and eligibility to participate in our 401(K) plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program.
Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including: medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance coverage; 14 paid holidays per calendar year; paid vacation time per calendar year (ranging from 15 to 25 days) or eligibility to participate in the Company's discretionary time off program; up to 10 paid sick days per calendar year; paid parental and compassionate leave; wellbeing programs for mental health and other wellness support; family planning support through Maven; commuter benefits; and reimbursements for fitness-related expenses. Ontario only: The use of Artificial Intelligence is not being used to screen candidates. The position is for an existing vacancy.
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