3d Animator Salary in the United States

How much does a 3d Animator make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a 3d Animator in the United States is $90,341 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $43.

However, a 3d Animator's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,839
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,795 to $97,406
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $72,104
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View as table View as graph 25% $80,795 10% $72,104 90% $103,839 75% $97,406 $90,341 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

3d Animator Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $97,406 $8,117 $1,873 $47
Average $90,341 $7,528 $1,737 $43
25th Percentile $80,795 $6,733 $1,554 $39
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Key Factors That Influence 3d Animator Salaries

A 3d 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects 3d Animator Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 3d 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 (less than 1 year): $62,192
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $76,179
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,330
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $126,654
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,728
Levels Salary
Motion Gr... Level 3d Animator$62,192
Motion Gr... Level 3d Animator$76,179
3d Animat... Level 3d Animator$92,330
Motion Gr... Level 3d Animator$126,654
Motion Gr... Level 3d Animator$153,728
$62,192 0 yr
$76,179 < 2 yrs
$92,330 2-4 yrs
$126,654 5-8 yrs
$153,728 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for 3d 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: $113,947
  • San Francisco: $112,700
  • Oakland: $110,325

What Skills Can Increase a 3d Animator's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 1.32% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Software Design (Mentioned in 3.67% 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.
  • Advertising (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Advertising is a marketing communication that employs an openly sponsored, non-personal message to promote or sell a product, service or idea.:465 Sponsors of advertising are typically businesses wishing to promote their products or services. Advertising is differentiated from public relations in that an advertiser pays for and has control over the message. It differs from personal selling in that the message is non-personal, i.e., not directed to a particular individual.:661,672 Advertising is communicated through various mass media, including traditional media such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, outdoor advertising or direct mail; and new media such as search results, blogs, social media, websites or text messages. The actual presentation of the message in a medium is referred to as an advertisement, or "ad" or advert for short. Commercial ads often seek to generate increased consumption of their products or services through "branding", which associates a product name or image with certain qualities in the minds of consumers. On the other hand, ads that intend to elicit an immediate sale are known as direct-response advertising. Non-commercial entities that advertise more than consumer products or services include political parties, interest groups, religious organizations and governmental agencies. Non-profit organizations may use free modes of persuasion, such as a public service announcement. Advertising may also help to reassure employees or shareholders that a company is viable or successful.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 1.32%
Software Design 3.67%
Advertising 1.29%
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 a 3d Animator's salary.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Animation Design: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Technical Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Scheduling
$98,472
9%
Animation Design
$95,762
6%
Technical Skills
$93,051
3%
Leadership
$93,051
3%
Innovation
$93,051
3%
Initiative
$93,051
3%
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3d Animator Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For 3d Animator roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 62% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Telecom and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, 3d Animator positions in Transportation or Media typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view 3d Animator as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a 3d Animator

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Telecom$110,216$53.022%
Energy & Utilities$108,409$52.020%
Pharmaceuticals$108,409$52.020%
Software & Networking$108,409$52.020%
Healthcare$103,892$50.015%

3d Animator Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a 3d 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for 3d Animator

Salaries for a 3d Animator can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $86,198 in 2023 to around $84,553 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of 3d Animator salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of 3d Animator Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$86,198
2024
$85,230
2025
$84,553
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $86,198
2024 $85,230
2025 $84,553
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for 3d Animator

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for 3d Animator

Here are companies hiring for 3d Animator and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next 3d Animator Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current 3d Animator job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
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    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

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    CDL

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    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

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    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

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FAQ about 3d Animator

1. What industry pays the highest salary for 3d Animator?

The Telecom industry offers the highest average compensation for 3d Animator roles, with salaries approximately 22% above the market median.

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.)

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