Creative62% remote-eligible+4.5% YoY growth

Animator Salary
by City (2026)

Create animated content for films, games, apps, and advertising. National median: $72K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$72K

Top 10% earn

$135K

Entry level

$52K

Salary growth

+4.5%/yr

Animator salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$78K	$108K	$147K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$74K	$102K	$139K	210	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$73K	$101K	$137K	163	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$72K	$99K	$135K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$71K	$98K	$133K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$70K	$97K	$132K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$70K	$97K	$132K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$68K	$94K	$128K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$67K	$93K	$126K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$65K	$91K	$123K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$65K	$91K	$123K	165	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$65K	$90K	$123K	155	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$65K	$90K	$122K	162	None ✓
Washington, DC	$65K	$90K	$123K	152	8.5%
Jersey City, NJ	$65K	$90K	$123K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$64K	$88K	$120K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$63K	$87K	$119K	155	11%
San Diego, CA	$62K	$86K	$118K	148	9.3%
Santa Ana, CA	$62K	$86K	$116K	150	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$62K	$86K	$118K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$62K	$86K	$118K	155	10.75%
Anaheim, CA	$61K	$85K	$116K	148	9.3%
Boston, MA	$61K	$85K	$116K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$61K	$85K	$116K	148	5.75%
Portland, OR	$61K	$85K	$116K	130	9.9%
Rockville, MD	$61K	$85K	$116K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$61K	$84K	$114K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$61K	$84K	$114K	145	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$59K	$82K	$111K	138	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$59K	$82K	$112K	140	10.75%
Edison, NJ	$59K	$82K	$111K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$59K	$82K	$111K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$58K	$81K	$110K	128	9.3%
Miami, FL	$57K	$79K	$108K	123	None ✓
Denver, CO	$57K	$79K	$108K	118	4.55%
Honolulu, HI	$57K	$79K	$108K	192	11%
Austin, TX	$56K	$78K	$106K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$56K	$78K	$106K	107	4.95%
Scottsdale, AZ	$56K	$78K	$106K	118	2.5%
Worcester, MA	$56K	$78K	$106K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$56K	$78K	$106K	110	3.07%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$55K	$76K	$103K	118	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$55K	$76K	$103K	128	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$55K	$76K	$103K	99	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$55K	$76K	$103K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$55K	$76K	$103K	106	6.8%
Baltimore, MD	$55K	$76K	$103K	115	5.75%
New Haven, CT	$55K	$76K	$104K	122	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$55K	$76K	$103K	118	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$55K	$76K	$103K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$54K	$75K	$102K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$53K	$74K	$101K	115	5.99%
Dallas, TX	$53K	$73K	$100K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$53K	$73K	$100K	105	None ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$53K	$73K	$99K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$53K	$73K	$100K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$53K	$73K	$99K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$53K	$73K	$99K	112	4.75%
St. Paul, MN	$53K	$73K	$100K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$53K	$73K	$100K	105	4.85%
Anchorage, AK	$53K	$73K	$100K	128	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$52K	$72K	$98K	102	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$52K	$72K	$98K	100	None ✓
Raleigh, NC	$52K	$72K	$98K	102	4.75%
Durham, NC	$52K	$72K	$98K	100	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$52K	$72K	$98K	110	9.9%
Las Vegas, NV	$52K	$72K	$98K	102	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$51K	$71K	$96K	108	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	9.3%
St. Petersburg, FL	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$51K	$71K	$96K	100	2.5%
Chandler, AZ	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	2.5%
Gilbert, AZ	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	4.55%
Springfield, MA	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	5%
Charlotte, NC	$51K	$71K	$96K	100	4.75%
Salem, OR	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$51K	$71K	$96K	100	4.85%
Boise, ID	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	5.8%
Meridian, ID	$51K	$71K	$96K	105	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$52K	$71K	$97K	108	6.6%
Carrollton, TX	$50K	$70K	$95K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$50K	$70K	$95K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$50K	$69K	$94K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$50K	$69K	$94K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	6.8%
Reno, NV	$50K	$69K	$94K	108	None ✓
West Jordan, UT	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$50K	$69K	$94K	105	6.5%
Overland Park, KS	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$50K	$69K	$94K	100	6.6%
Houston, TX	$49K	$68K	$93K	91	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$49K	$68K	$93K	94	None ✓
Albany, NY	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$49K	$68K	$92K	98	2.5%
Chesapeake, VA	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$49K	$68K	$92K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$49K	$68K	$92K	90	3.99%
Pittsburgh, PA	$49K	$68K	$93K	90	3.07%
Madison, WI	$49K	$68K	$93K	102	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$49K	$68K	$93K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$49K	$67K	$91K	95	6.5%
Garland, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	91	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	None ✓
Jacksonville, FL	$48K	$66K	$90K	93	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	4.95%
Colorado Springs, CO	$48K	$66K	$90K	102	4.55%
Athens, GA	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	5.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$48K	$66K	$90K	98	5.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$48K	$66K	$90K	88	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$48K	$66K	$90K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	6%
Cheyenne, WY	$48K	$66K	$90K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$47K	$66K	$89K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$47K	$65K	$88K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$47K	$65K	$88K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$47K	$65K	$88K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$47K	$65K	$88K	82	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$47K	$65K	$88K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	3.23%
Milwaukee, WI	$47K	$65K	$88K	90	5.3%
Green Bay, WI	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$47K	$65K	$88K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$46K	$64K	$87K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$46K	$63K	$86K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	5.75%
Savannah, GA	$46K	$63K	$86K	92	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$46K	$63K	$86K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$46K	$63K	$86K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$45K	$63K	$86K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$45K	$62K	$84K	95	None ✓
Macon, GA	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$45K	$62K	$84K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$45K	$62K	$84K	90	4.25%
Erie, PA	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$45K	$62K	$84K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$45K	$62K	$84K	88	5.84%
Las Cruces, NM	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$45K	$62K	$85K	80	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$44K	$61K	$83K	84	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$44K	$61K	$83K	90	2.5%
Memphis, TN	$44K	$61K	$83K	82	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$44K	$61K	$83K	88	5.9%
Jackson, MS	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$44K	$61K	$84K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$44K	$60K	$82K	75	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$44K	$60K	$82K	85	None ✓
Birmingham, AL	$44K	$60K	$82K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$44K	$60K	$82K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$44K	$60K	$82K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$44K	$60K	$82K	88	6%
Fort Smith, AR	$44K	$60K	$82K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$44K	$60K	$82K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$43K	$59K	$80K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$43K	$59K	$80K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$43K	$59K	$80K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$42K	$58K	$78K	78	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$42K	$58K	$78K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$39K	$54K	$74K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $72K Animator salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Animator Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Animator is $72,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $52,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $98,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Animators nationally earn $135,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's in Animation, Fine Arts, or CS. This role is 62% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Animator compensation is growing at 4.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.

Animator salary FAQ

How much does a Animator make?

The median Animator salary in the US is $72,000 per year — about $35/hour. Most earn between $52,000 (25th percentile) and $98,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Animator?

Entry-level Animator positions typically start around $52,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Animators earn?

The top 10% of Animators earn $135,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Animators the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Animator salary at $108K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Animator salaries going up?

Yes — Animator pay is growing about 4.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Animator Salaryby City (2026)