Animator

Print

Work Tasks

• Design graphics, special effects, and art work for movies, computer games, music videos, books, etc.
• Use computers or pen and paper to draw cartoons, comic strips, sales ads, and greeting cards
• Edit photos and drawings
• Work alone or with others in studios or in their home
• Work for advertisers, comic book and newspaper publishers, stores, in the TV industry, and the government
• Work with cameras and lenses, computers, scanners and media tools

Salary, Size & Growth

• $52,500 average per year ($25.25 per hour)
• A medium occupation (26,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.4% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in art, graphic design, fine art, illustration or a related field
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in art for technical positions
• Skills/Courses: College courses include computer training, graphic design, and visual communications. Students learn how to assemble their own portfolio, a collection of handmade, computer-generated, photographic, or printed samples of the artist's best work.