CreativeUpdated Q1 2026No state income tax

Animator Salary
in San Antonio, TX

Create animated content for films, games, apps, and advertising. Median salary in San Antonio: $65K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$65K
per year
Take-home: $46K

Salary range in San Antonio

Entry level (25th)$47,000
Median (50th)$65,000
Senior (75th)$88,000
Top earner (90th)$122,000
Data freshness

Figures represent annual base salary in San Antonio, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial Β· How we calculate this β†’

Help build this dataset. Add your own Animator salary so other workers in San Antonio have better numbers to work with.
Submit yours β†’

What the numbers say for San Antonio

Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above β€” specific to this role and city.

10% discount vs national median

Animators in San Antonio earn approximately 10% lower than the US national median for this role β€” a $7,000 discount on annual base salary. San Antonio's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 87 (US avg = 100).

Cost-of-living adjusted picture

Adjusted for San Antonio's cost-of-living index (87), the median Animator salary buys the equivalent of $74,713 in a US-average-cost city. That's $2,713 more purchasing power than the national median β€” a meaningful real-wage advantage.

No state income tax β€” $6K effective edge

Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $6,045 per year at this salary level compared to a California Animator on the same gross pay. A San Antonio Animator would need to earn $71,665 in California to net the same take-home.

Key facts for San Antonio

Median salary
$65K
annual
Take-home pay
$46K
after fed/state tax
COL index
87
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
no-tax state
Avg 1BR rent
$1,100
per month
YoY growth
+4.5%
salary trend

Salary forecast: San Antonio Animator to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $65K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast β€” San Antonio

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Animator salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED β†’$54K$59K$64K$69K$74K201920212023202520272029
2026
$67K
projected
2027
$68K
projected
2028
$70K
projected
2029
$72K
projected
2030
$74K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$65,000+$0
2028 projected$65,000+$0
2029 projected$65,000+$0
2030 projected$65,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

Full salary breakdown & negotiation guide

Unlock the full salary report + negotiation email template

Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates β€” unsubscribe anytime.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Animator Salary in San Antonio, Texas: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Animator salary in San Antonio, TX is $65,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the San Antonio–TX metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Animator in San Antonio

Entry-level Animators in San Antonio with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $47,000 and $65,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $65,000 to $88,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $88,000 to $122,000 or more.

Cost of living in San Antonio for Animators

San Antonio has a cost of living index of 87 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 13% further in San Antonio than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax β€” giving San Antonio-based Animators an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Animator

Bachelor's in Animation, Fine Arts, or CS. This role is 62% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for San Antonio-based professionals.

Animator salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
San Antonio (current)$65K87
Houston$68K91
Dallas$73K96
Austin$78K110
Fort Worth$69K93
El Paso$59K82