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Pixar Animation Studios salaries
Pixar Animation Studios salary estimate
$83,323yearly
Pixar Animation Studios Salaries Overview
The average salary at Pixar Animation Studios is approximately $83,323 per year, reflecting the studio's commitment to rewarding creativity and talent. Compensation varies significantly across different roles, with artists and developers often earning higher wages due to the specialized skills required. For example, positions in the art and design departments can command salaries higher than the average, reflecting the studio's emphasis on quality and innovation.
Location also influences salary levels; employees working in major hubs like San Francisco may see different compensation compared to those in other areas. Understanding these factors can help potential candidates gauge their earning potential and make informed decisions about pursuing a career at Pixar. Additionally, examining the highest-paying jobs within the company, such as senior animators and technical directors, provides insights into the opportunities available for growth and advancement.
Highest paying jobs at Pixar Animation Studios
The highest paying jobs at Pixar Animation Studios are senior scientist, director of software development, software engineer, and job developer. Senior scientist jobs at Pixar Animation Studios earn an average yearly salary of $162,036, Pixar Animation Studios director of software development jobs average $160,230, and Pixar Animation Studios software engineer jobs average $133,563.
The lowest paying Pixar Animation Studios roles include volunteer and production assistant. Pixar Animation Studios volunteer average salary is $36,777 per year. So while the average Pixar Animation Studios salary is $83,323 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at Pixar Animation Studios
| Rank | Job title | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Scientist | $162,036 | $77.90 |
| 2 | Director Of Software Development | $160,230 | $77.03 |
| 3 | Software Engineer | $133,563 | $64.21 |
| 4 | Job Developer | $125,203 | $60.19 |
| 5 | Information Technology Consultant | $119,428 | $57.42 |
| 6 | Animator | $114,404 | $55.00 |
| 7 | Systems Administrator | $106,623 | $51.26 |
| 8 | Technical Director | $96,765 | $46.52 |
| 9 | Project Manager | $96,632 | $46.46 |
| 10 | Artist | $84,174 | $40.47 |
| 11 | Graphic Designer | $55,981 | $26.91 |
| 12 | Production Coordinator | $51,508 | $24.76 |
| 13 | System Technician | $49,454 | $23.78 |
| 14 | Human Resources Coordinator | $43,595 | $20.96 |
| 15 | Management Assistant | $42,171 | $20.27 |
| 16 | Substitute Teacher | $40,383 | $19.41 |
| 17 | Safety And Security Officer | $39,482 | $18.98 |
| 18 | Internship | $36,875 | $17.73 |
| 19 | Production Assistant | $36,790 | $17.69 |
| 20 | Volunteer | $36,778 | $17.68 |
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How much does Pixar Animation Studios pay by location?
Highest paying Pixar Animation Studios locations
| Rank | Location | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $95,225 | $45.78 |
| 2 | Emeryville, CA | $93,514 | $44.96 |
| 3 | Newark, DE | $82,865 | $39.84 |
| 4 | Morrisville, NC | $76,913 | $36.98 |
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Pixar Animation Studios salaries by department
Salaries at Pixar Animation Studios vary depending on the department you work in. Pixar Animation Studios salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $141,035. Employees in the it department at Pixar Animation Studios receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $100,972 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Pixar Animation Studios include the sports/entertainment and the marketing organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $43,329 and $56,159, respectively.
Average Pixar Animation Studios salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering | $141,035 | $67.81 |
| 2 | IT | $100,972 | $48.54 |
| 3 | Art/Design | $71,135 | $34.20 |
| 4 | Plant/Manufacturing | $68,847 | $33.10 |
| 5 | Human Resources | $65,832 | $31.65 |
| 6 | Administrative | $62,618 | $30.10 |
| 7 | Marketing | $56,159 | $27.00 |
| 8 | Sports/Entertainment | $43,330 | $20.83 |
How much does Pixar Animation Studios pay by department?
Best paying Pixar Animation Studios art/design salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animator | $114,404 | $55.00 |
| 2 | Artist | $84,174 | $40.47 |
| 3 | Graphic Designer | $55,981 | $26.91 |
| 4 | Art Coordinator | $52,423 | $25.20 |
Best paying Pixar Animation Studios engineering salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering Manager | $188,030 | $90.40 |
| 2 | Director Of Software Development | $160,230 | $77.03 |
| 3 | Senior Field Engineer | $150,784 | $72.49 |
| 4 | Software Engineer | $133,563 | $64.21 |
| 5 | Sound Designer | $102,558 | $49.31 |
Best paying Pixar Animation Studios IT salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Pixar Animation Studios salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Director Of Information Technology Services | $183,959 | $88.44 |
| 2 | Information Technology Consultant | $119,428 | $57.42 |
| 3 | Systems Administrator | $106,623 | $51.26 |
| 4 | Technical Director | $96,765 | $46.52 |
| 5 | Manager, Security And Safety | $77,537 | $37.28 |
| 6 | Computer Programmer Analyst | $69,346 | $33.34 |
| 7 | Fixer | $46,038 | $22.13 |
| 8 | Technical Internship | $41,994 | $20.19 |
Pixar Animation Studios competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at Pixar Animation Studios competitors, like Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks Animation, and Reel FX, vary. Industrial Light & Magic employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $80,032. The average salary at DreamWorks Animation is $79,120 per year, and the average salary at Reel FX is $76,801 per year.
Highest paying Pixar Animation Studios competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Industrial Light & Magic | 4.0 | $80,032 |
| 2 | DreamWorks Animation | 4.8 | $79,120 |
| 3 | Reel FX | 4.3 | $76,801 |
| 4 | Lucasfilm | 4.8 | $76,776 |
| 5 | Sony Pictures | 4.8 | $72,264 |
| 6 | Penske Media | 4.4 | $61,902 |
| 7 | Digital Domain | 4.7 | $61,794 |
| 8 | Radio Free Asia | 4.3 | $60,882 |
| 9 | LAIKA | 4.2 | $60,671 |
| 10 | Blue Sky Studios | 3.8 | $55,507 |
| 11 | Splaat | 3.4 | $55,263 |
| 12 | This Old House | 4.2 | $54,844 |
| 13 | Lionsgate | 4.8 | $53,964 |
| 14 | Free Speech TV | 3.6 | $53,346 |
| 15 | Signs Now | 3.4 | $50,279 |
| 16 | Print International | 4.0 | $49,281 |
| 17 | ITV America | 4.0 | $47,998 |
| 18 | The Korea Times | 3.9 | $46,447 |
| 19 | KPBS | 4.1 | $45,360 |
| 20 | The Walt Disney Company | 4.6 | $35,065 |
Recently added Pixar Animation Studios salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Media Systems Engineer | Emeryville, CA | 06/14/2025 | $107,695 |
| Assistant Editor, Creative Film Services | Emeryville, CA | 06/12/2025 | $79,900 |
| Software Engineer, Tools Hydra/Visualization (Core) | Emeryville, CA | 06/04/2025 | $145,265 |
| SR. Avid Editorial Engineer | Emeryville, CA | 05/25/2025 | $145,265 |
| Safety & Security Officer | Emeryville, CA | 05/22/2025 | $44,030 |
What employees say about salary at Pixar Animation Studios
I love the diversity of Pixar, and everyone coming together like a family. When we are working on different films, it's so cool to see people discussing animation by the cafe or reviewing scenes in a theater. All in all, it's a great experience working there and barely feels like a job. It's more of an experience.
One thing that I don't like about Pixar is the lack of opportunity for promotions. Sometimes it doesn't really feel like you're progressing, and instead just doing the same continuous cycle through each production.
One of the really cool perks about working at Pixar is that when you get an office, they don't really have rules about what you can do, which gives you creative freedom for your personal space. I've walked around different places and seen some very interesting and unique works of art within peoples' offices, such as fun paint or bold, abstract artwork.
Frequently asked questions about Pixar Animation Studios salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Pixar Animation Studios, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Pixar Animation Studios. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Pixar Animation Studios. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Pixar Animation Studios. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Pixar Animation Studios and its employees or that of Zippia.
Pixar Animation Studios may also be known as or be related to Pixar, Pixar Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Inc. and Pixar Inc.