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3d animator vs graphic designer/production

The differences between 3d animators and graphic designer/productions can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a 3d animator, becoming a graphic designer/production takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a 3d animator has an average salary of $73,596, which is higher than the $48,619 average annual salary of a graphic designer/production.

The top three skills for a 3d animator include animation, storyboards and visualization. The most important skills for a graphic designer/production are graphic design, adobe photoshop, and adobe illustrator.

3d animator vs graphic designer/production overview

3D AnimatorGraphic Designer/Production
Yearly salary$73,596$48,619
Hourly rate$35.38$23.37
Growth rate5%3%
Number of jobs57195,831
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Average age4038
Years of experience212

What does a 3d animator do?

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.

What does a graphic designer/production do?

A Graphics Designer in production is the person in charge of designing and interpreting ideas pointed out by the client or the company. The graphics designer must use market standard applications and techniques to produce attention-grabbing designs intended to market a product, service, or company. Graphic designers are an integral part of a company's digital marketing, especially over the internet. The graphic designer must have a good eye for style, typesetting, and the use of colors.

3d animator vs graphic designer/production salary

3d animators and graphic designer/productions have different pay scales, as shown below.

3D AnimatorGraphic Designer/Production
Average salary$73,596$48,619
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $108,000Between $35,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAMenlo Park, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaMaryland
Best paying companyNVIDIAOptimum Nutrition
Best paying industryMediaTechnology

Differences between 3d animator and graphic designer/production education

There are a few differences between a 3d animator and a graphic designer/production in terms of educational background:

3D AnimatorGraphic Designer/Production
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 63%
Most common majorAnimationGraphic Design
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

3d animator vs graphic designer/production demographics

Here are the differences between 3d animators' and graphic designer/productions' demographics:

3D AnimatorGraphic Designer/Production
Average age4038
Gender ratioMale, 83.4% Female, 16.6%Male, 57.0% Female, 43.0%
Race ratioBlack 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, 3.4% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 10.6% Asian, 10.4% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage11%13%

Differences between 3d animator and graphic designer/production duties and responsibilities

3d animator example responsibilities.

  • Manage design collaboration and storyboard creations.
  • Attend pre-production meetings and film shootings to assist directors in vfx shoot execution.
  • Animate in-game characters and cinematic sequences for transmedia projects on iOS and PC.
  • Animate monster truck 3D characters in Maya for a children's programming Youtube channel.
  • Develop episodes from concept to completion (design, color, cleanup, FX, audio editing).
  • Create the game animations for the enemies in the game as well as all VFX that appear in game.
  • Show more

Graphic designer/production example responsibilities.

  • Manage production of products; custom banners, t-shirts, satin flags, from concept to final product.
  • Manage various publications including catalogs, catalog inserts, brochures, mailers and advertising material.
  • Develop and update conference materials, including PowerPoint presentations, posters, handouts, badges, table tents, and folders.
  • Produce corporate identity systems and collateral print materials, print advertising, product/capabilities brochures, direct mail and newsletters.
  • Produce daily, weekly and monthly newsletters in both print and HTML.
  • Create cleaner HTML email templates and help others within the group improve their HTML skills.
  • Show more

3d animator vs graphic designer/production skills

Common 3d animator skills
  • Animation, 30%
  • Storyboards, 5%
  • Visualization, 5%
  • Motion Capture, 4%
  • Motion Graphics, 4%
  • Game Engine, 4%
Common graphic designer/production skills
  • Graphic Design, 14%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 9%
  • Adobe Illustrator, 8%
  • Art Direction, 6%
  • Adobe Indesign, 5%
  • Signage, 5%

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