Best cities for an animation director
The best cities for animation directors are Reno, NV, San Francisco, CA, and Raleigh, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for animation directors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for animation directors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an animation director or considering a move, this list of the best cities for animation directors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for animation directors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an animation director. While the absolute best city for animation directors is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for animation directors in 2024.
If you're looking for an animation director job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for animation directors in 2025
1. Reno, NV
Total animation director jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $121,942 Lowest 10 percent warn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $199,000 Location quotient: 11.66 2. San Francisco, CA
Total animation director jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $101,529 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 2.20 3. Raleigh, NC
Total animation director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $84,782 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.84 4. Sacramento, CA
Total animation director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $101,247 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000 Location quotient: 1.05 5. Washington, DC
Total animation director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $112,032 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 0.38 6. Las Vegas, NV
Total animation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $112,950 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. North Las Vegas, NV
Total animation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $112,737 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $182,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Henderson, NV
Total animation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $112,310 Lowest 10 percent warn: $69,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $181,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. Baltimore, MD
Total animation director jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $97,522 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 0.71 10. Durham, NC
Total animation director jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $84,905 Lowest 10 percent warn: $52,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000 Location quotient: 0.00
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Best cities for animation directors
- Reno, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Sacramento, CA
- Washington, DC
- Las Vegas, NV
- North Las Vegas, NV
- Henderson, NV
- Baltimore, MD
- Durham, NC
- (4 animation director jobs)
- (10 animation director jobs)
- (1 animation director jobs)
- (1 animation director jobs)
- (1 animation director jobs)
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Detailed list of the best cities for an animation director
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reno, NV | $121,942 | $74,000 | 245,255 | 4 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $101,529 | $62,000 | 870,887 | 10 |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | $84,782 | $52,000 | 458,880 | 1 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $101,247 | $62,000 | 495,234 | 1 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $112,032 | $70,000 | 681,170 | 1 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $112,950 | $69,000 | 632,912 | - |
| 7 | North Las Vegas, NV | $112,737 | $69,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 8 | Henderson, NV | $112,310 | $69,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $97,522 | $61,000 | 614,664 | 1 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $84,905 | $52,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 11 | Greensboro, NC | $83,871 | $52,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $81,571 | $51,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 13 | Oakland, CA | $101,325 | $62,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 14 | Winston-Salem, NC | $83,273 | $51,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 15 | Fremont, CA | $100,834 | $62,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 16 | Charlotte, NC | $80,593 | $49,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 17 | Stockton, CA | $100,670 | $61,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $74,328 | $46,000 | 855,164 | 1 |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $91,972 | $57,000 | 3,976,322 | 7 |
| 20 | San Jose, CA | $100,481 | $61,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 21 | Brookhaven, NY | $91,953 | $58,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 22 | Islip, NY | $91,725 | $58,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 23 | Fort Wayne, IN | $77,372 | $48,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 24 | Oyster Bay, NY | $91,621 | $58,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 25 | Nashville, TN | $69,361 | $43,000 | 660,388 | 1 |
| 26 | Fresno, CA | $97,986 | $60,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 27 | Hempstead, NY | $91,437 | $58,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 28 | New York, NY | $91,281 | $58,000 | 8,537,673 | 2 |
| 29 | Chicago, IL | $84,018 | $53,000 | 2,704,958 | - |
| 30 | Bakersfield, CA | $95,266 | $58,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 31 | Wichita, KS | $73,807 | $46,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 32 | Buffalo, NY | $89,771 | $57,000 | 256,902 | - |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $75,918 | $47,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 34 | Newark, NJ | $72,810 | $46,000 | 281,764 | 6 |
| 35 | Lexington, KY | $71,752 | $45,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 36 | Long Beach, CA | $91,309 | $56,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 37 | Louisville, KY | $70,726 | $44,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 38 | Anaheim, CA | $91,161 | $56,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 39 | Memphis, TN | $68,465 | $42,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 40 | Santa Ana, CA | $90,979 | $56,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 41 | Riverside, CA | $90,834 | $56,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 42 | Irvine, CA | $90,796 | $56,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 43 | Seattle, WA | $78,181 | $47,000 | 704,352 | 1 |
| 44 | Boston, MA | $74,643 | $47,000 | 673,184 | 1 |
| 45 | San Diego, CA | $89,277 | $55,000 | 1,406,630 | - |
| 46 | Phoenix, AZ | $65,123 | $40,000 | 1,615,017 | 1 |
| 47 | Chula Vista, CA | $89,074 | $55,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $67,400 | $42,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 49 | Austin, TX | $53,741 | $32,000 | 947,890 | 5 |
| 50 | Madison, WI | $65,977 | $41,000 | 252,551 | - |
Highest paying cities for animation directors
| Rank | City | Avg. animation director salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $101,529 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $84,018 |
| 3 | Redmond, WA | $77,997 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $74,643 |
| 5 | Newark, NJ | $72,810 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,495 |
| 7 | Orlando, FL | $57,292 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $53,741 |
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Updated January 8, 2025