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Special effects designer vs animator

The differences between special effects designers and animators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a special effects designer and an animator. Additionally, an animator has an average salary of $76,853, which is higher than the $71,523 average annual salary of a special effects designer.

Special effects designer vs animator overview

Special Effects DesignerAnimator
Yearly salary$71,523$76,853
Hourly rate$34.39$36.95
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs54,314551
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Average age4040
Years of experience22

Special effects designer vs animator salary

Special effects designers and animators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Special Effects DesignerAnimator
Average salary$71,523$76,853
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $125,000Between $52,000 And $112,000
Highest paying City-Las Vegas, NV
Highest paying state-Nevada
Best paying company-Meta
Best paying industry-Media

Differences between special effects designer and animator education

There are a few differences between a special effects designer and an animator in terms of educational background:

Special Effects DesignerAnimator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 74%
Most common majorGraphic DesignAnimation
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Special effects designer vs animator demographics

Here are the differences between special effects designers' and animators' demographics:

Special Effects DesignerAnimator
Average age4040
Gender ratioMale, 64.1% Female, 35.9%Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 14.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 67.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between special effects designer and animator duties and responsibilities

Special effects designer example responsibilities.

  • Modify SRV-1 source code using JavaScript software to attain tracking at any instantaneous time.
  • Develop handbags from initial sketch through final product including material sourcing, development of prototypes, sampling and technical specifications.
  • Provide additional support with occasional photo and video shoots, video editing and animation.

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

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