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The differences between game designers and animators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a game designer, becoming an animator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a game designer has an average salary of $87,645, which is higher than the $76,853 average annual salary of an animator.
The top three skills for a game designer include unity, UI and game development. The most important skills for an animator are animation, motion capture, and storyboards.
| Game Designer | Animator | |
| Yearly salary | $87,645 | $76,853 |
| Hourly rate | $42.14 | $36.95 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 45,227 | 551 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A video game designer is responsible for making a concept of a video game and creating the storylines, scenarios, maps, character development, user interfaces, and in-game objectives. Typical responsibilities include adding computer scripting using computer software, which will then generate events, objects, commands, and characters that end-users can choose from to interact with during the game. Additionally, you will write code using different computer programming languages and designing characters, animation, and levels. To become a successful video game designer, you must be creative, innovative, and ambitious.
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.
Game designers and animators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Designer | Animator | |
| Average salary | $87,645 | $76,853 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $127,000 | Between $52,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Media |
There are a few differences between a game designer and an animator in terms of educational background:
| Game Designer | Animator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Animation |
| Most common college | Stanford University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between game designers' and animators' demographics:
| Game Designer | Animator | |
| Average age | 44 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |