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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Animator expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $90,783, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $63,548 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Animator falls within the Creative & Media sector, specifically in Arts & Media. The typical education path involves Bachelor's in animation. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is hybrid/remote — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
$100,620 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Animator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $165,360 — $100,620 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($64,740). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Animators average $65,364, the median sits at $90,783, and senior earners pull in $128,912. That $63,548 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $10,416 above the national median household income of $80,367 — meaning even a mid-career professional in this field outearns the typical American household.
The state breakdown adds another layer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $154,440 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $65,260. That $89,180 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
A Animator in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $165,360 — $100,620 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($64,740). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Animator is $65,364, while senior-level (P90) earners average $128,912. That $63,548 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Animators pull in an average of $128,912. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Animators average $65,364 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $65,364 | $90,783 | $128,912 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £33,968 | £47,177 | £66,991 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$49,011 | CA$68,071 | CA$96,660 |
| Australia | 13 | A$54,406 | A$75,565 | A$107,302 |
| Sweden | 24 | 346,999 kr | 481,944 kr | 684,360 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $78,891 | $109,571 | $155,591 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $76,237 | $105,885 | $150,357 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $75,816 | $105,300 | $149,526 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $70,200 | $97,500 | $138,450 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $69,358 | $96,330 | $136,789 |
| Washington | 8 | $68,024 | $94,478 | $134,158 |
| New York | 5 | $64,023 | $88,920 | $126,267 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $64,022 | $88,920 | $126,266 |
| Florida | 22 | $63,537 | $88,246 | $125,310 |
| Colorado | 11 | $62,440 | $86,722 | $123,145 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $62,338 | $86,580 | $122,944 |
| Nevada | 5 | $62,225 | $86,424 | $122,722 |
| Arizona | 12 | $61,916 | $85,995 | $122,113 |
| Oregon | 5 | $61,776 | $85,800 | $121,836 |
| Idaho | 3 | $61,589 | $85,540 | $121,467 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $61,102 | $84,864 | $120,507 |
| Utah | 4 | $60,934 | $84,630 | $120,175 |
| Virginia | 7 | $59,931 | $83,237 | $118,197 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $59,155 | $82,160 | $116,667 |
| Alaska | 1 | $58,968 | $81,900 | $116,298 |
| Illinois | 5 | $58,294 | $80,964 | $114,969 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $56,846 | $78,953 | $112,114 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $56,160 | $78,000 | $110,760 |
| Montana | 1 | $56,160 | $78,000 | $110,760 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $55,973 | $77,740 | $110,391 |
| Texas | 40 | $55,697 | $77,357 | $109,846 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $55,599 | $77,220 | $109,653 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $55,318 | $76,830 | $109,099 |
| Georgia | 6 | $55,130 | $76,570 | $108,729 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $55,037 | $76,440 | $108,545 |
| Kansas | 4 | $54,756 | $76,050 | $107,991 |
| Michigan | 6 | $54,569 | $75,790 | $107,622 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $53,914 | $74,880 | $106,330 |
| Maryland | 1 | $53,914 | $74,880 | $106,330 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $53,352 | $74,100 | $105,222 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $51,948 | $72,150 | $102,453 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $51,667 | $71,760 | $101,899 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $50,965 | $70,785 | $100,515 |
| Missouri | 4 | $50,965 | $70,785 | $100,515 |
| Alabama | 5 | $50,768 | $70,512 | $100,127 |
| Indiana | 3 | $49,982 | $69,420 | $98,576 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $49,982 | $69,420 | $98,576 |
| Iowa | 2 | $49,421 | $68,640 | $97,469 |
| Ohio | 6 | $49,327 | $68,510 | $97,284 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $47,174 | $65,520 | $93,038 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Animator median of $109,571 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($105,885) and Hawaii ($105,300). The state breakdown adds another layer. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $65,520 and $68,640. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Sunnyvale ($78,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($78,000 adjusted), Irvine ($78,000 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $165,360 | 212 | $78,000 | $97,988 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $154,440 | 198 | $78,000 | $91,977 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $143,520 | 184 | $78,000 | $85,965 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $141,180 | 181 | $78,000 | $84,677 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $138,840 | 178 | $78,000 | $83,389 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $138,060 | 177 | $78,000 | $82,960 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $138,060 | 177 | $78,000 | $82,960 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $134,940 | 173 | $78,000 | $81,242 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $134,940 | 173 | $78,000 | $81,242 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $131,820 | 169 | $78,000 | $79,524 |
From a career planning perspective, Animator offers a $63,548 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires Bachelor's in animation. Day-to-day, expect hybrid/remote work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Animators is $90,783 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $65,364, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $128,912.
The highest-paying city for Animators is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $165,360. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($165,360), Santa Clara ($154,440), Irvine ($143,520). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Animator salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $64,740. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Animators (10th percentile) average $65,364 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $119,059. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Animators average $128,912 nationally — $63,548 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Animators can earn up to $234,811.
The top-paying states for Animators are California ($109,571 median), Massachusetts ($105,885 median), Hawaii ($105,300 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Animator involves Bachelor's in animation. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically hybrid/remote.
With a national median of $90,783 and representation across 288 metro areas, Animator offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $63,548 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.