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Animator in San Jose, 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 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

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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 San Jose, CA

90750 - 131670

Low
90750
The candidate is new to the role or has limited experience and is still developing core skills.
Mid
106590
The candidate has moderate experience in the role or one similar, meets most requirements and may hold transferable skills or relevant certifications.
High
131670
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 136290 178200 218790 Art Director 112200 135960 164010 Creative Services Manager 103290 126720 151800 Instructional Designer 101310 128040 153780 Motion Designer 101310 120120 143220 Presentation Designer 90420 111870 132660 Digital Designer 90090 107910 132660 3D Modeler 80850 99990 123090 Package Designer 74250 89430 109560 Graphic Designer 69630 90420 106920 Illustrator 73260 87120 103950 Video Producer 87780 117480 139920 Video Editor 80190 95370 119130 Digital Asset Manager 77220 97020 121440 Production Manager 88440 106590 124410 Production Artist 71610 86460 99330 Production Coordinator 62370 68970 81180 Photographer 60060 78540 99330

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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.
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