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The salary for a Design/Animation Instructor averages around $63,762 per year, or approximately $31 per hour. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographical location and years of experience. In metropolitan areas with a high demand for specialized skills, salaries tend to be higher.
In states like California and New York, the average salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled educators. For example, instructors in major cities such as San Francisco and New York City may earn significantly more due to the higher demand for design and animation professionals.
As a Design/Animation Instructor, you can explore various career paths, including roles in higher education, online course development, and corporate training. Continuous professional development and staying updated with industry trends can further enhance your earning potential and job opportunities.
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The highest-paying states for design/animation instructors are California, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average design/animation instructor salary states are Louisiana, Montana, and Kansas.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $87,950 | $42.28 |
| 2 | Colorado | $77,305 | $37.17 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $85,459 | $41.09 |
| 4 | Texas | $78,934 | $37.95 |
| 5 | Washington | $84,325 | $40.54 |
| 6 | Oregon | $74,400 | $35.77 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $76,861 | $36.95 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $70,356 | $33.83 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $72,422 | $34.82 |
| 10 | Iowa | $68,370 | $32.87 |
| 11 | Michigan | $65,139 | $31.32 |
| 12 | Delaware | $69,429 | $33.38 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $69,809 | $33.56 |
| 14 | Alaska | $67,621 | $32.51 |
| 15 | New York | $70,421 | $33.86 |
| 16 | Arizona | $66,527 | $31.98 |
| 17 | Mississippi | $70,132 | $33.72 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $62,530 | $30.06 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $70,283 | $33.79 |
| 20 | Florida | $67,311 | $32.36 |
| 21 | Vermont | $65,215 | $31.35 |
| 22 | Alabama | $65,025 | $31.26 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $75,994 | $36.54 |
| 24 | Nebraska | $65,262 | $31.38 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $63,970 | $30.75 |
| 26 | Utah | $63,343 | $30.45 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $63,842 | $30.69 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $65,091 | $31.29 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $63,636 | $30.59 |
| 30 | Georgia | $61,046 | $29.35 |
| 31 | Kentucky | $62,742 | $30.16 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $62,511 | $30.05 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $59,217 | $28.47 |
| 34 | Indiana | $62,421 | $30.01 |
| 35 | Maine | $62,079 | $29.85 |
| 36 | Virginia | $59,316 | $28.52 |
| 37 | Nevada | $58,604 | $28.18 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $60,569 | $29.12 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| 40 | Ohio | $59,307 | $28.51 |
| 41 | Montana | $55,717 | $26.79 |
| 42 | Maryland | $60,692 | $29.18 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $57,776 | $27.78 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $52,147 | $25.07 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania | $57,757 | $27.77 |
| 46 | Missouri | $58,972 | $28.35 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $57,195 | $27.50 |
| 48 | Kansas | $55,461 | $26.66 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $56,568 | $27.20 |
| 50 | Illinois | $54,528 | $26.22 |
| 51 | Idaho | $50,385 | $24.22 |
The highest-paying cities for design/animation instructors are Burbank, CA, New York, NY, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burbank, CA | $85,587 | $41.15 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $70,548 | $33.92 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $69,849 | $33.58 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $60,975 | $29.31 |
A design/animation instructor's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $88,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $63,762 | $5,314 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
The highest paying types of design/animation instructors are adjunct faculty, instructional supervisor, and animator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjunct Faculty | $83,069 | $6,922 | $39.94 | 26,791 |
| Teacher-In-Training | $37,214 | $3,101 | $17.89 | 132,725 |
| Instructor, Adjunct Faculty | $52,225 | $4,352 | $25.11 | 37,739 |
| Instructor, Faculty | $57,553 | $4,796 | $27.67 | 38,774 |
| Animator | $76,853 | $6,404 | $36.95 | 551 |
| Cosmetology Instructor | $45,344 | $3,779 | $21.80 | 24,434 |
Top companies hiring design/animation instructors now:
Design/animation instructor salaries at Technicolor and Imaginary Forces are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average design/animation instructor salary at companies like BUCK and TBWA Worldwide are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technicolor | $71,932 | $34.58 |
| 2 | Imaginary Forces | $68,287 | $32.83 |
| 3 | BUCK | $65,289 | $31.39 |
| 4 | TBWA Worldwide | $63,626 | $30.59 |
| 5 | E! News | $62,555 | $30.07 |
| 6 | National Football League | $57,524 | $27.66 |
| 7 | Make School | $49,131 | $23.62 |
The average design/animation instructor salary has risen by $7,830 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average design/animation instructor earned $55,932 annually, but today, they earn $63,762 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for design/animation instructors over the last decade.
Compare design/animation instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare design/animation instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $63,800 | $30.65 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $62,600 | $30.10 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $60,900 | $29.28 | +2.9% |
| 2022 | $59,200 | $28.44 | +1.8% |
| 2021 | $58,100 | $27.92 | +2.3% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC | Motion Designer/Animator | Davie, FL | 01/14/2025 | $108,846 |
| Coed Studios, LLC | Animator & Designer | New York, NY | 08/16/2024 | $65,000 |
| Black Math Inc. | Animator and Motion Designer | Boston, MA | 06/14/2024 | $67,000 |
| Black Math Inc. | Designer and Animator | Boston, MA | 04/22/2024 | $67,000 |
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