Animator Salary (2026)
The median animator in the games industry earns $87,480 per year with 6–10 years of experience (global, base salary in USD), with most offers falling between $68k and $111k.
Figures are based on 62+ anonymous community salary reports and public industry surveys, resolved per experience band. Rows marked model estimate have no direct survey data yet — submit your salary to improve them. See the methodology for how numbers are computed.
Salary by experience (global)
| Experience | Low | Median | High | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 years | $36,421 | $42,739 | $49,058 | Community datan=15 |
| 3–5 years | $41,394 | $52,659 | $63,924 | Community datan=37 |
| 6–10 years | $68,081 | $87,480 | $110,557 | Community datan=10 |
| 11–15 years | $112,000 | $128,000 | $144,000 | Model estimate |
| 16+ years | $128,000 | $160,000 | $192,000 | Model estimate |
Salary by region
Median base salary (USD) for the best-covered experience band per region — bands differ where coverage differs. US buying power converts that figure to what it buys locally (World Bank 2023 price levels, see methodology).
| Region | Median | Experience | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | $118,000 | 6–10 years | Community datan=5 |
| Rest of World | $57,146 | 6–10 years | Community datan=5 |
| United Kingdom · Eastern Europe | $56,960 | 6–10 years | Community datan=5 |
| Asia Pacific | $51,528 | 3–5 years | Community datan=4 |
| Western Europe · Nordic Countries | $47,126 | 3–5 years | Community datan=15 |
Open animator jobs
Recent listings from games-industry job boards:
How this compares outside games
Official government wage statistics for the closest occupation across all industries. Not games-specific, never mixed into the data above.
| Occupation (official) | Coverage | Low | Median | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Special Effects Artists and Animators | United States (national, all industries) | $58,600 | $102,030 | $177,110 | US Bureau of Labor Statistics |