8 of the Best Types of Animator Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Animator jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Animator Jobs

• Entry Level Animator

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  To become an entry-level animator, you need to have several qualifications. Most animators have an associate or bachelor’s degree in fine arts, computer animation, or a closely related subject. As an undergraduate, you should begin to compile a portfolio to show your range of imagination and technical ability to prospective employers. Formal education is not always necessary, however, and a strong portfolio and demonstrated creativity as an artist can make up for the lack of a degree. Other important skills to carry out your responsibilities as an animator include strong technical knowledge and excellent interpersonal communication skills.

• Animator Internship

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  The qualifications to get an animator internship depend on the type of internship for which you are looking. If you are a student, you should have at least one year of classroom experience before you consider applying for a training internship position. A recent graduate should have an associate or bachelor's degree in animation or a closely related subject. In addition to educational experience, you need strong design skills, the ability to illustrate by hand, and the ability to use animation software to draw cartoon characters, background graphics for movies or video games, or visualizations for advertising and marketing.

• Freelance Animator

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  The qualifications that you need to start work as a freelance animator include artistic skills, knowledge of animation software, and the ability to work as part of a team. Since freelance animators are independent of a company, your job responsibilities include finding clients who want to hire you. You should create a portfolio of past work to show to prospective clients. Animators can pursue formal education and earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in animation. Another option is to obtain certification in animation software, such as AutoDesk Maya.

• Animator Summer

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• Full Time Animator

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Manager Animator

  Salary range: $45,500 - $133,000

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Senior Animator

  Salary range: $106,000 - $121,000

  Senior Animator is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Senior Animator jobs pay between $106,000 (25th percentile) and $121,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Animator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Junior Animator

  Salary range: $34,000 - $69,000

  Junior Animator is a common job search query. Most salaries for Junior Animator jobs pay between $34,000 (25th percentile) and $69,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for Junior Animator job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.