Animator in Sacramento, CA

Animator Job Description

Animators breathe life and personality into characters, scenes and other animation elements used to tell stories in cartoons, films, video games, commercials, social media and more. These creative professionals create and sequence multiple images, referred to as “frames,” to give the illusion of movement. An animator might employ digital images, hand-drawn illustrations, models or other types of images and props to create special effects and other animations using computer-generated animation, 2D or 3D model-making, or stop-frame tools and techniques. Employers seek animators with a vivid imagination who are collaborative and receptive to feedback and can work diligently under pressure. Multimedia experience, including in emerging areas like virtual reality (VR), and video editing expertise are highly valued. A bachelor’s degree in computer animation, fine arts or graphic arts is often preferred for this role. Most employers will require candidates to provide a solid portfolio of relevant creative work, including hand-drawn character designs and animation clips.

Typical animator duties:

Creating character sketches, designing backgrounds and other elements, and developing storyboards for animation projects

Reading through scripts, and brainstorming and conceptualizing compelling images to help tell stories in an engaging, memorable way

Working closely with a wide range of team members throughout projects, including artists, story editors, photographers, designers, other animators, voice actors and producers

Ensuring final deliverables are high quality and delivered on time and on budget

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Salary for Animator in Sacramento, CA

74093 - 107670

25th percentile

74093

The candidate is new to the role and building the needed skills, experience and autonomy.

50th percentile

87413

The candidate has the experience to perform core responsibilities without direct supervision and is comfortable with the role’s processes and subject matter.

75th percentile

107670

The candidate delivers value beyond the stated job duties, has advanced qualifications and experience, and is ready for the next career level.

Projected salaries for related positions

Position title

25th percentile

50th percentile

75th percentile

Art Director

91298

111833

132090

Presentation Designer

66878

83805

96293

3D Modeler

64935

80753

99068

Digital Production Artist

63825

79365

99345

Graphic Designer

57720

74648

88245

Package Designer

61883

74925

91853

Illustrator/Infographics Designer

60495

71873

85470

Production Artist

58553

69098

76868

Production Coordinator

51615

56888

67155

Photographer

49395

64935

81585

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