What are the typical hours of an animator?
Hours/Travel
Usually work an irregular schedule that varies by projects and deadlines. May work part time or full time. However, most work full time, about 40 hours per week or more.
Most animators work a regular schedule, typically a minimum of 40 hours a week. However, when deadlines are approaching, they may work overtime—including nights and weekends. What can I do with a degree in animation?
Full-time special effects artists and animators usually earn benefits such as sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.
High-pressure work environment
The work environment for multimedia artists and animators can be stressful. They might work under tight deadlines and significant pressure to get their designs completed as quickly as possible.
Though the field is competitive and employment is often short-term, it's also growing quickly. If you have the will to work hard and the technical, visual, and communication skills needed to make top-caliber animations, you stand a very good chance of earning a comfortable living as an animator.
Animation Job Satisfaction
The majority of animators you'll meet are happy, creative people who love their job. Although they sometimes work long hours, they love the challenge, collaboration, and continual learning opportunities that animation gives them.
| Junior | Expert | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $20-35 | $70-150 |
| Daily | $150-250 | $500-1000 |
| Weekly | $750-1,250 | $2,500-5,000 |
| Annually | $39K-65K | $130K-260K |
...
How Employees Rate Pixar Animation Studios' Work Life Balance.
| Answer | Percent |
|---|---|
| >1 hour | 20% |
| 1 hour | 60% |
| 45 minutes | 20% |
| 30 minutes | 0% |
Game animation also varies a great deal, but speaking with a few folks at various studios it seems like “normal” ranges between 5-10 seconds per day, or 25-50 seconds a week. Something more important drops it down to 2-4 seconds a day, and during crunch time it can increase to 10-20.
The average hourly wage foraEntry Level Animator in the United States is $30 as of December 27, 2022, but the range typically falls between $25 and $35.