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Animation

Animator Salaries

Also known as: character animator, 3d animator

Median Salary
$84KUSD / year
Range
$46K – $210K
Data Points
11,490
Countries
5

Numbers below are estimates from aggregated public data and anonymous community submissions. See methodology.

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Salary Distribution (USD)
$53K
$63K
$84K
$123K
Percentile markers
Median
Middle 50% (P25–P75)

Compensation by Country & Seniority

annual salary+ Add yours
LevelUnited States
$ USD
avg $100K/yr
Australia
A$ AUD
avg A$88K/yr
Canada
C$ CAD
avg C$62K/yr
United Kingdom
£ GBP
avg £34K/yr
India
INR
avg ₹8.5L/yr
Junior
$65K
A$60K≈ $39K USD
C$52K≈ $38K USD
£26K≈ $33K USD
₹4.0L≈ $5K USD
Mid-Level
$100K
A$88K≈ $57K USD
C$78K≈ $57K USD
£38K≈ $48K USD
₹8.5L≈ $10K USD
Senior
$145K
A$125K≈ $81K USD
C$110K≈ $80K USD
£59K≈ $74K USD
₹15.0L≈ $18K USD
Lead
$163K

Year-over-Year Trend

USD median / year
-27.8%20242025
$71K
24
$51K
-27.8%
25
Hover bars for details. Based on 61 data points across 2 years.

Methodology: Animator figures are sourced from government labor statistics (SOC 27-1014), H-1B disclosure records, union rate cards, published industry reports, and anonymous community submissions. All figures are gross annual compensation in local currency with USD equivalents. Aggregates require a minimum of 5 data points (k-anonymity). Recent data is weighted higher than older data.

A note on these numbers. Salary benchmarks on VFX Engine are aggregated from publicly available sources, including government labor statistics, H-1B disclosure records, union rate cards, published industry reports, and anonymous submissions from VFX artists. Aggregates show what a role typically pays in a given country, not what any individual artist, studio, or contract will offer.

Numbers may be incomplete, outdated, or reflect sampling skew. Use them as orientation, not as a binding figure for compensation decisions. VFX Engine is not responsible for negotiation outcomes, offers accepted or declined, or hiring decisions made based on this data. Always confirm the actual offer in writing with the hiring studio.