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Animator in Cedar Rapids, IA

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 projectsReading through scripts, and brainstorming and conceptualizing compelling images to help tell stories in an engaging, memorable wayWorking closely with a wide range of team members throughout projects, including artists, story editors, photographers, designers, other animators, voice actors and producersEnsuring final deliverables are high quality and delivered on time and on budget

Looking for an animator or an animator job?

Request candidates now and a specialized recruiter will typically contact you within one business day to discuss your staffing needs and help you hire an animator.Search animator openings and apply now or submit your resume to be considered for opportunities that match your experience.
Salary for Animator in Cedar Rapids, IA

68750 - 99750

Low
68750
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
80750
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
99750
The candidate has extensive experience in the role, demonstrates advanced skills and often brings specialized certifications or industry experience.
Projected salaries for related positions Job title Low Mid High Creative Director 103250 135000 165750 Art Director 85000 103000 124250 Creative Services Manager 78250 96000 115000 Instructional Designer 76750 97000 116500 Motion Designer 76750 91000 108500 Presentation Designer 68500 84750 100500 Digital Designer 68250 81750 100500 3D Modeler 61250 75750 93250 Package Designer 56250 67750 83000 Graphic Designer 52750 68500 81000 Illustrator 55500 66000 78750 Video Producer 66500 89000 106000 Video Editor 60750 72250 90250 Digital Asset Manager 58500 73500 92000 Production Manager 67000 80750 94250 Production Artist 54250 65500 75250 Production Coordinator 47250 52250 61500 Photographer 45500 59500 75250

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The salary benchmarks in the Salary Guide From Robert Half are the result of a rigorous, multistep process designed to reflect projected market trends for 2027. They are based on actual compensation for professionals Robert Half has placed nationwide, along with third-party job posting data from Textkernel that we use for independent validation. Learn more about our methodology.