Why are animators paid so little?

While there are animators that can earn very high sums of compensation, it is true that on the whole animators tend to not make a lot of money. Here are some factors that contribute to this being the case:

• Animation is a highly competitive field

The field of animation is quite saturated with aspiring animators. It is a profession that often stems from a passion for art and the desire to obtain a dream job in the field. This means that many people are trying to become professional animators. And that means that, with a higher supply of potential workers, employers can pay lower wages.

• Freelance animators

There are a lot of animators that are considered freelance, or self-employed. This means that some might not be able to get consistent clients for animation projects, resulting in a low annual total income. Freelance animators also have to compete with other self-employed animators, which can lead to less work or lower wages in general.

• Working hours

Animators often have to work long hours, more than 40 per week. This is due to the amount of work required for many animation projects and tight deadlines. Many animators are not paid overtime when they work over 40 hours per week.

• Animation outsourcing

Some animation jobs get outsourced to countries where local animators are willing to do the work for less pay. This takes away from the availability of work for animators, which can affect overall pay, and also causes some animators to offer their services for lower prices to remain in competition with outsourced animators.

• The unpredictability of the animation industry

The animation industry can be a volatile one. Sometimes there is a high rate of animation jobs up for grabs, while other times animators might be competing for a less robust amount of animating work. This leads to many animators experiencing difficulty in securing steady and well-paid work.