How Much Does an Animation Specialist Make in California?

Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025, the average annual pay of Animation Specialist in California is $88,222. While Salary.com is seeing that Animation Specialist salary in CA can go up to $108,050 or down to $68,741, but most earn between $78,025 and $98,601. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
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Similar Job Salaries to Animation Specialist by Company

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Company average base salary in (usd) range
Armada
Graphic Designer / Animation Specialist Job at Armada in Port Hueneme
$71,833/yr
$64,277
$79,390
RANGE: $64,277 - $79,390
UF Lastinger Center for Learning
Animation Specialist
$60,846/yr
$53,718
$67,974
RANGE: $53,718 - $67,974
Confidential
Animation Director
$176,307/yr
$160,311
$192,303
RANGE: $160,311 - $192,303
Naughty Dog
Animation Programmer
$98,811/yr
$89,116
$108,507
RANGE: $89,116 - $108,507
Mediabistro
Animation Recruiter
$76,694/yr
$67,956
$85,432
RANGE: $67,956 - $85,432
sonypicturesanimation
Animation Supervisor
$98,923/yr
$86,949
$110,897
RANGE: $86,949 - $110,897
AGBO
Senior Character / Animation Specialist
$91,045/yr
$83,372
$98,718
RANGE: $83,372 - $98,718
Nickelodeon
Recruiter, Animation Recruitment (Freelance)
$78,251/yr
$69,333
$87,169
RANGE: $69,333 - $87,169
Rockstar Games
Senior Animation R&D Programmer
$129,578/yr
$118,055
$141,101
RANGE: $118,055 - $141,101
Mileade Villages Clubs & Hotels
Responsable animation H/F
$94,423/yr
$85,126
$103,720
RANGE: $85,126 - $103,720

Open Animation Specialist Jobs in California

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Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Animation Specialist Jobs in California

It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States. There are some cities where an Animation Specialist can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living. Below is the top cities list for Animation Specialist job salaries in California. Some cities can pay higher salaries for Animation Specialist jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Animation Specialist positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Animation Specialist salary is higher than other cities in California. San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont. The Animation Specialist salary is $100,883 in San Jose, which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Animation Specialist salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for an Animation Specialist in California is $88,222, but we found that the city with the highest salary for Animation Specialist jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara. Animation Specialist jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
CITY ANNUAL SALARY MONTHLY PAY WEEKLY PAY HOURLY WAGE
San Jose $100,883 $8,407 $1,940 $49
Santa Clara $100,883 $8,407 $1,940 $49
Fremont $100,691 $8,391 $1,936 $48
San Francisco $99,891 $8,324 $1,921 $48
Daly City $99,891 $8,324 $1,921 $48
Berkeley $97,676 $8,140 $1,878 $47
Oakland $97,676 $8,140 $1,878 $47
Hayward $97,516 $8,126 $1,875 $47
Antioch $92,157 $7,680 $1,772 $44
Vallejo $89,981 $7,498 $1,730 $43

What Does an Animation Specialist Do?

3D animation is a technically intensive process, which often involves many separate specialists to model the character, rig it with bones and controls, animate it, and then texture and light it for the final output.
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If you are thinking of becoming an Animation Specialist or planning the next step in your career, find details about.
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Frequently Asked Questions About an Animation Specialist Salaries

What is the average of an Animation Specialist in California?

The Animation Specialist salary range is from $78,025 to $98,601, and the average Animation Specialist salary is $88,222/year in California. The Animation Specialist's salary will change in different locations.

Which location pays the highest Animation Specialist salary in the United States?

The Animation Specialist salary in San Jose, CA is $100,883 which is the highest in the US.

What kinds of reasons will influence the Animation Specialist's salary?

Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary. Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Animation Specialist.

What is the growth rate of the Animation Specialist's salary?

If you are thinking of becoming an Animation Specialist or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of an Animation Specialist.