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Animator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$102,030median pay per year, or $49.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $58,600lowest 10% earn less
  2. $75,49025th percentile
  3. $102,030median
  4. $139,13075th percentile
  5. $177,110top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Special effects artists and animators earned a median of $102,030 a year, about twice the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. Jobs are projected to dip slightly, so the field is not expected to grow[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-0.3%[3]
Openings per year
4,200[5]
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree[6]

How much do animators make?

The median pay for special effects artists and animators was $102,030 a year, or $49.06 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less. The average was $112,870 a year, or $54.27 an hour[7]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,600 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $75,490[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $139,130, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $177,110[4]. In hourly terms, those boundaries were $28.17, $36.29, $66.89 and $85.15[8]. A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentiles, not a starting salary[9].

These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed and do not count bonuses outside regular production pay or the cost of benefits[10]. About 19,970 people held wage jobs in this group[11].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $58,600
25th percentile[4] $75,490
Median[1] $102,030
75th percentile[4] $139,130
90th percentile[4] $177,110

Pay by state and city

Washington had the highest median wage at $133,480, followed by California at $130,540[12]. Nevada ($97,350) and New York ($96,770) came next[12]. Among states with published data, Iowa had the lowest median at $47,530[12].

California had the most jobs by far, at 7,410[13]. New York (1,540), Florida (1,530), Washington (1,130) and Oregon (870) followed[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $156,950[14]. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($136,770) and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($134,120) came next[14]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had the most jobs at 4,650, with a median of $124,590[15].

Show median pay in 31 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$133,4801,130
California$130,5407,410
Nevada$97,350370
New York$96,7701,540
Colorado$91,290210
Arizona$89,650190
North Carolina$88,350370
Utah$88,210320
Michigan$86,630230
Florida$85,8701,530
Maryland$85,830170
Tennessee$83,08090
Virginia$81,510380
Georgia$81,390350
Illinois$81,180630
Massachusetts$80,640n/a
Rhode Island$80,040n/a
Texas$78,930n/a
Indiana$75,250300
Pennsylvania$71,760300
Ohio$67,000200
Oklahoma$66,980n/a
Missouri$65,47080
Minnesota$64,99030
Wisconsin$64,890210
Kansas$62,720n/a
West Virginia$60,94040
New Mexico$54,00080
Kentucky$50,97040
Nebraska$50,83090
Iowa$47,530n/a

How to become an animator

BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry education. It lists no typical work experience and no typical on-the-job training[6].

O*NET places this job in Job Zone Four, where considerable preparation is needed[20]. With teamwork and time-management skills, artists can move up to supervisory roles, and some reach art director, producer or director positions[21]. The facts do not say how long training takes.

What animators do

O*NET describes the work as creating special effects or animations with film, video, computers or other electronic tools, for products such as games, movies, music videos and commercials[22]. Tasks include:

Workers report job titles such as 3D animator, digital artist and motion graphics artist[24]. Useful qualities include creativity, artistic ability, computer skills, communication and time management[25][26][27][28][29].

Where they work

Many artists and animators work in offices, and others work from home[30]. Most keep a regular schedule, but they may work nights and weekends when deadlines get close[31]. In 2025, 62.9% of special effects artists and animators were self-employed[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 51,900 to 51,800 jobs[3]. That count includes self-employed workers, so it is larger than the wage-job count in the pay data[3][11]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5%[33].

Still, about 4,200 openings are projected each year[5]. Openings include jobs left by workers who retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 3.8% of workers leave the labor force and 4.3% move to a different occupation[34].

BLS names technology as a factor. It expects the share of employment to decrease as more animation and post-production tasks are sped up by tools, including generative AI[35].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is high compared with all occupations, with a median of $102,030 against $50,980[1][2]. The range is wide, and the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $58,600[4]. A bachelor's degree is the typical entry point, and employers usually prefer a good portfolio[6][18]. Most special effects artists and animators were self-employed (62.9%), and these wage figures do not cover their earnings[32][10]. Employment is projected to dip slightly while openings continue[3][5].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does an animator make an hour?
The median was $49.06 an hour and the average was $54.27 in May 2025[1][7].
What degree do you need to be an animator?
A bachelor's degree is the typical entry education, in fields such as computer graphics, animation or fine arts[6][16].
Is animation in demand?
Employment is projected to fall 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, but about 4,200 openings a year are projected[3][5].
What is the highest paying state for animators?
Washington had the highest median wage at $133,480, ahead of California at $130,540[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in the US was $102,030 per year and $49.06 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Special Effects Artists and Animators is projected to decline 0.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 51,900 to 51,800 jobs (a change of -100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Special Effects Artists and Animators: 10th percentile $58,600, 25th percentile $75,490, 75th percentile $139,130, 90th percentile $177,110. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,200 openings for Special Effects Artists and Animators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Special Effects Artists and Animators: education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators was $112,870 per year and $54.27 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Special Effects Artists and Animators: 10th percentile $28.17, 25th percentile $36.29, 75th percentile $66.89, 90th percentile $85.15. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 19,970 people were employed as Special Effects Artists and Animators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs: California 7,410; New York 1,540; Florida 1,530; Washington 1,130; Oregon 870. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Special Effects Artists and Animators (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $156,950; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $136,770; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $134,120; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $124,590; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $118,750; Salt Lake City-Murray, UT $101,730; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $96,760; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $96,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Special Effects Artists and Animators jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 4,650 (median $124,590); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,560 (median $96,760); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 1,440 (median $136,770); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 1,030 (median $134,120); Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL 960 (median $91,150); Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 27-1014.00: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Special Effects Artists and Animators. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Special Effects Artists and Animators. O*NET OnLine
  24. O*NET 27-1014.00 sample job titles reported by workers: 3D Animator (Three-Dimensional Animator), 3D Artist (Three-Dimensional Artist), Animator, Artist, Digital Artist, Graphic Artist, Motion Graphics Artist, Multimedia Producer. O*NET OnLine
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Employment Projections: 62.9% of Special Effects Artists and Animators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Special Effects Artists and Animators: 3.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Special Effects Artists and Animators: Productivity change - share decreases as more animation and post-production tasks are accelerated by the use of technology, including generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.