Animator: Duties & Salary

Animators are important in many different stories, whether they are movies, television shows, or even a commercial. It takes talent and creative skills to work as an animator. If you have this passion for art and design, an animator job may be just the ticket to draw your own career success.
What does an animator do?
By drawing and using computers, animators create a series of images or special effects, depending on what they are working on. They may create storyboards for commercials, motion pictures, or other visual campaigns. Essentially, animators draw images by hand or use computers to draw these images that make up a storyboard. An animator may be a good job for those who are looking for flexible schedules, as more than 60 percent of animators are actually self-employed. There are a variety of industries in which an animator may work. Some may be illustrators, who are at a character's inception; others may be cartoonists, working on creating new fantasy characters; and others could work with medical or scientific fields. These scientific animators are those who create digital images to illustrate surgical procedures and other medical images that will help teach those who are learning. You may find animators completing their latest sketches in a variety of locations. Although many are self-employed and find themselves working at home, a group of animators actually do work in offices, on studio sets, warehouses, and more. In these types of environments, animators are generally working in well-lit surroundings so as to be as precise as possible. How much do animators get paid and what kinds of animator jobs can I get?
The median earnings for animators in May 2006 was about $51,350 a year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest 10 percent earned close to $95,000. What you bring home all depends upon where you work, what area you are in, and what animator degrees you have pursued. You may find animator jobs in a variety of companies. Advertising agencies, major studios, and other television programs may rely on animators for a large portion of their work. These kinds of animators typically work a standard workweek. There are also some self-employed animators who may choose to do freelance work from their homes or go to various locations to complete their work. Some animators even have their own studios or share studio space with others. Animator jobs seem promising within the next few years, due to the fact that the field should grow by 16 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. Competition will be fierce for these jobs, however, because they are very desirable in this creative field. However, animators with great talent are always in demand.

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