Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between 3d animators and artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a 3d animator has an average salary of $73,596, which is higher than the $68,690 average annual salary of an artist.
The top three skills for a 3d animator include animation, storyboards and visualization. The most important skills for an artist are maya, adobe photoshop, and customer service.
| 3D Animator | Artist | |
| Yearly salary | $73,596 | $68,690 |
| Hourly rate | $35.38 | $33.02 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 571 | 3,870 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 2 | - |
A 3D animator specializes in designing and developing 3D animation materials, adhering to the program or project's needs. They typically work together with a team of animators and producers in studios or offices. Most of the time, their responsibilities involve performing extensive research, creating drafts and storyboards, consulting with team members and editors, and performing revisions as needed. Furthermore, as a 3D animator, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with staff for a smooth and efficient workflow.
An Artist specializes in creating various artworks or prose; the audience can vary from individuals or the general public. An artist's responsibility depends on the industry, company, or position where they are assigned. However, most of the time, Artists are expected to work under specific guidelines, deliver materials in a required format within an allotted time and perform revisions according to what is preferred by an editor or client. Furthermore, independent artists may work freelance and receive commissions for their craft.
3d animators and artists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| 3D Animator | Artist | |
| Average salary | $73,596 | $68,690 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $108,000 | Between $42,000 And $110,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Rafael, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | NVIDIA | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Media | Technology |
There are a few differences between a 3d animator and an artist in terms of educational background:
| 3D Animator | Artist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 72% | Bachelor's Degree, 59% |
| Most common major | Animation | Fine Arts |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between 3d animators' and artists' demographics:
| 3D Animator | Artist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.4% Female, 16.6% | Male, 45.2% Female, 54.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |