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Animator vs 3d artist

The differences between animators and 3d artists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an animator and a 3d artist. Additionally, an animator has an average salary of $76,853, which is higher than the $74,721 average annual salary of a 3d artist.

The top three skills for an animator include animation, motion capture and storyboards. The most important skills for a 3d artist are animation, unity, and zbrush.

Animator vs 3d artist overview

Animator3D Artist
Yearly salary$76,853$74,721
Hourly rate$36.95$35.92
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs5513,978
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

What does an animator do?

The animators are specialized artists who conceptualized ideas from their creative minds with technology applications. Animators cater to different specialties depending on their expertise. They used multiple techniques and tools to create a digital masterpiece. An animator is required to have an excellent time and project management skills to meet deadlines. They should also be detail-oriented and technology savvy to keep up with the latest trend in the digital market. Animators are required to have regular communication with the respective department for the updates or adjustments as needed.

What does a 3d artist do?

A 3D Artist uses complex software to develop graphics and animations for use in various media, such as video games, television shows, and multimedia presentations. They often work in teams, dividing project workloads in accordance to strengths.

Animator vs 3d artist salary

Animators and 3d artists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Animator3D Artist
Average salary$76,853$74,721
Salary rangeBetween $52,000 And $112,000Between $47,000 And $116,000
Highest paying CityLas Vegas, NVSan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateNevadaNevada
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryMediaUtilities

Differences between animator and 3d artist education

There are a few differences between an animator and a 3d artist in terms of educational background:

Animator3D Artist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 74%Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common majorAnimationAnimation
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Animator vs 3d artist demographics

Here are the differences between animators' and 3d artists' demographics:

Animator3D Artist
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 71.9% Female, 28.1%Male, 83.9% Female, 16.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 6.0% Hispanic or Latino, 14.1% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between animator and 3d artist duties and responsibilities

Animator example responsibilities.

  • Lead a team of artists to create the art and animation for motion comics aspects of the show.
  • Train & supervise newly appoint employee in achieving realistic looking effects and help integrating the effects in compositing with cg elements.
  • Create many logos for a YouTube sketch.
  • Sketch every seen multiple times utilizing several camera angles and character blocking.
  • Assist in the animation development of learning videos and nursery rhymes for YouTube.
  • Implement uniform display geometry to support texture artist and UV mapping artist, demonstrating advance UV mapping skills.
  • Show more

3d artist example responsibilities.

  • Create many MEL scripts to help automate routine daily tasks and improve overall productivity.
  • Write tools in Maxscript, MEL, javascript, python, and vbscript to automate repetitive processes.
  • Create high poly characters, props, and environments using organic and hard surface techniques in Zbrush and Maya.
  • Generate programs for CNC punch press.
  • Help team create nodes for nuke.
  • Contract as a 3D visualization designer & animator.
  • Show more

Animator vs 3d artist skills

Common animator skills
  • Animation, 36%
  • Motion Capture, 7%
  • Storyboards, 5%
  • Motion Graphics, 5%
  • AAA, 3%
  • Graphic Design, 3%
Common 3d artist skills
  • Animation, 13%
  • Unity, 11%
  • ZBrush, 6%
  • Game Engine, 5%
  • Adobe Photoshop, 4%
  • Concept Art, 3%

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