Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Entry Level Animator Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Level Animator make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Level Animator in the United States is $63,503 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, an Entry Level Animator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,225
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $54,303 to $73,303
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $45,927
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Entry Level Animator Salaries

An Entry Level Animator's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Entry Level Animator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Entry Level Animator's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry Level Animator (0-2 years): $63,487
  • 3D Animator II (2-4 years): $77,764
  • 3D Animator III (4-7 years): $94,246
  • 3D Animator IV (7+ years): $129,285
  • 3D Animator V (7-10 years): $156,928
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Entry Level Animator0-2 years$63,487
3D Animator II2-4 years$77,764
3D Animator III4-7 years$94,246
3D Animator IV7+ years$129,285
3D Animator V7-10 years$156,928
View as Graph

How Do Entry Level Animator Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Level Animators. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $70,303.
  • California: $70,103.
  • Massachusetts: $69,103.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Level Animators

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $80,103
  • San Francisco: $79,203
  • Oakland: $77,603

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Level Animator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Initiative (Mentioned in 6.13% Job Postings): Taking decisive action and initiating plans independently to address problems, improve professional life, and achieve goals.
  • Motion Graphics (Mentioned in 4.25% Job Postings): Motion Graphics is essentially graphic design made video. This style combines sound, text, charts, symbols, and animation, to convey hard data and written information in a compelling and clear way.
  • Software Design (Mentioned in 1.86% Job Postings): Software design is the process by which an agent creates a specification of a software artifact, intended to accomplish goals, using a set of primitive components and subject to constraints. Software design may refer to either "all the activity involved in conceptualizing, framing, implementing, commissioning, and ultimately modifying complex systems" or "the activity following requirements specification and before programming, as ... [in] a stylized software engineering process." Software design usually involves problem solving and planning a software solution. This includes both a low-level component and algorithm design and a high-level, architecture design.
Skills Demand Percentage
Initiative 6.13%
Motion Graphics 4.25%
Software Design 1.86%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Level Animator's salary.

  • Product Design: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Product Design $71,123
12%
Commitment $68,583
8%
Consulting $67,948
7%
Get Latest Data

Entry Level Animator Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Level Animator salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $70,967. While startup companies pay approximate $60,031.

Entry Level Animator Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $60,031
Growth Stage 51~500 $63,489
Established 501~5000 $68,528
Enterprise 5000+ $70,967

Entry Level Animator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Level Animator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 105% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Entry Level Animator positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Level Animator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Level Animator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$88,904$43.040%
Software & Networking$85,729$41.035%
Financial Services$82,554$40.030%
Biotechnology$79,379$38.025%
Internet$76,204$37.020%

How Education impacts an Entry Level Animator's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Level Animators enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Level Animator with a No Diploma is between $53,403 and $59,734).

Entry Level Animator Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Level Animator
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 10.0%
High School 10.0%
Associates 10.0%
Bachelors 67.0%
Masters 12.2%
Doctorate 0.8%
View as Graph

Entry Level Animator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Level Animator's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$54,303
Average $63,503/year
$73,303
$4,525
Average $5,292/month
$6,109
$1,044
Average $1,221/week
$1,410
$26
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,303 $6,109 $1,410 $35
Average $63,503 $5,292 $1,221 $31
25th Percentile $54,303 $4,525 $1,044 $26

Entry Level Animator Salary Growth & Career Path

Entry Level Animator

Next Role

Advancement

For an Entry Level Animator, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the 3D Animator II role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $77,800 - a projected growth of 23% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Entry Level Animator

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Level Animator

Here are companies hiring for Entry Level Animator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Entry Level Animator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Entry Level Animator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Adjust Employee Salary

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Entry Level Animator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Level Animator?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Level Animator roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

2. How much does a junior Animator earn in USA?

A junior Animator in the USA typically earns between $54,703 and $75,003 annually, with a median salary of around $63,903. This translates to an hourly wage ranging from approximately $26.30 to $36.06, depending on experience and location.

3. What is the salary of basic animator?

As an Entry Level Animator, you can expect a salary ranging from $54,703 to $75,003 annually, with a midpoint of $63,903. This translates to a monthly income of approximately $4,558 to $6,250, depending on your experience and skills in the field.

4. Is animation a good career in USA?

Animation can be a rewarding career for those with a passion for visual storytelling and design. Entry-level animators in the USA can expect salaries ranging from $54,703 to $75,003, with a median salary of $63,903. The industry is growing, with a projected job growth rate of 8.2% for multimedia artists and animators from 2022 to 2032.

5. Can you live off being an animator?

Yes, you can live off being an animator. While the field is competitive and often involves short-term employment, it is growing rapidly. Entry-level animators can expect salaries ranging from $54,703 to $75,003, with a median salary of $63,903. With dedication and the right skills, you can earn a comfortable living in this dynamic industry.

6. Is animator a high paying job?

Animator salaries can vary significantly based on experience and specialization. Entry-level animators typically earn between $54,703 and $75,003, with a mid-salary of $63,903. Specializing in areas like 3D animation or visual effects can lead to higher earnings, especially for senior roles, which can command even more in major studios or high-profile projects.

7. How much money do Disney animators make?

The salary range for an Entry Level Animator is approximately $54,703 to $75,003 per year. The average salary for this position is around $63,903 annually. This reflects the base salary and does not include additional compensation that may be offered.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst