In-Demand Animation Careers for 2024 (with Estimated Salaries)
For you who are passionate about working in the creative industry
Animations have been a part of the creative industries since long ago, from black and white Mickey Mouse to the vibrant and lively Toy Story series.
Until today, animations have their loyal fans varying across demographics.
As the creative industries keep on expanding, the demand for animation careers is wide open in the future.
Not to mention that more and more businesses use animated videos as their marketing tools.
Below we’ve listed seven popular animation careers. But let’s briefly discuss the basics first.
A Glimpse to Animation Careers
According to the statistics, multimedia artist and animator jobs are expected to increase by 4% from 2018 to 2028.
Some of the top industries that provide job opportunities for animators include technology, media, and hospitality.
Better still, animator careers offer good salaries even for entry-level.
Check out some essential skills you need to equip yourself with for pursuing a career as an animator:
Artistic talent
As an animator works to create visuals, they must have expertise in using and blending colors, lights, and texture.
Technical skill
An animator must be fluent in using computer software to make characters, movements, graphs, etc.
Depending on your focus, you may need to be familiar with particular computer software, including After Effects, Autodesk Maya, Cinema 4D, or others.
Applied math
In the animation industry, math comes to life and plays a crucial role in defining high-quality visuals.
For instance, you need trigonometry to move characters. Meanwhile, algebra and integral calculus help produce stunning sceneries and effects.
Body mechanism, anatomy, and physics knowledge
This knowledge is essential if you aim to work on big house productions like DreamWorks, Walt Disney, and Pixar.
You must equip yourself with excellent skills to create characters’ movements and emotions.
Popular Animation Careers for 2023
We’ve pieced together seven popular animation careers you can pursue in 2023, including the estimated salaries for each title.
1. Animator
Estimated salary: $4,389/month
Main job: An animator is responsible for creating object motions and changes by displaying a sequence of images that differ from each other.
An animator can work in different mediums, including hand-drawn animation, stop-motion animation, and computer animation.
2. Art Director
Estimated salary: $7,312/month
Main job: An art director visualizes and directs the design and style of animated videos.
They also lead artists and design teams to create visual concepts, determine the look and feel of a production, and oversee the production design process.
3. Graphic Artist
Estimated salary: $3,932/month
Main task: A graphic artist or designer creates visual elements, such as typography, graphs, imagery, and color, to deliver messages.
They work with creative directors to communicate project requirements and create designs that meet clients’ needs.
4. 3D Modeler
Estimated salary: $4,971/month
Main job: Using specialized software, a 3D modeler creates three-dimensional digital representations of objects or environments.
They work with artists and designers to build detailed, accurate, and high-quality 3D models that meet project requirements and specifications.
5. 3D Artist
Estimated salary: $5,718
Main job: A 3D artist creates and manipulates 3D models and environments for various applications, including animation, visual effects, video games, and architecture, using specialized software.
There are overlapping duties between a 3D artist and 3D modelers, such as creating 3D images, designing characters and objects, and building virtual environments.
However, a 3D modeler is often focused on more specific duties like creating objects or characters, while 3D artists also ensure the whole video is well crafted.
6. Lighting Technician
Estimated salary: $3,662/month
Main job: Lighting technician creates and implements lighting effects for animated productions to determine the desired look.
They are responsible for creating detailed and accurate lighting setups, including refining and adjusting the lighting throughout the animation process.
7. Video Game Designer
Estimated salary: $9,184/month
Main job: A video game designer designs and conceptualizes the gameplay, rules, and overall user experience for video games.
Their duties include determining the game’s objectives, characters, storyline, environments, and control systems, as well as creating prototypes and testing game mechanics to ensure a fun and engaging player experience.
Working in the creative industry can be a great option if you enjoy and are skillful at crafting excellent visuals.
Keep in mind that the salaries mentioned above are just estimated numbers.
They may vary depending on your location, company size, and skill levels.
After all, pursuing an animation career is worth trying as it provides vast job opportunities for now and years ahead.
