Disney animators are some of the highest-paid professionals, and their salaries reflect that. As a Disney animator, you’ll likely be working on classic animated movies or new blockbuster animation movies. These movies are highly anticipated by all Disney fans. And Disney needs to ensure that its animators are paid fairly for their hard work. Let us know about “How Much Are Disney Animators Paid?”
There are various job designations for animators at Disney. And the salary differs from post to post. The salary also varies depending on the location of the workplace. But the typical salary range of Disney animators in the US is from $32,000 to
Payscale Of Disney Animators
Working at Disney is a dream come true for everyone. Especially being a Disney animator brings out your inner child. Watching your favorite cartoons to creating your own with an equally talented team is a world-changing experience. Added to it are the recognition and attractive pay scale that makes Disney a haven for aspiring animators.
There are multiple animator posts at such a huge place as Disney. And the pay scale also varies with the seniority and workload of the post. Some of the posts and their corresponding salary are mentioned below.
- 3D Modeler: $106,000-$114,000
- 2D Animator: $50,040-$59,323
- Animation Trainee: $3,337-$3,629/mo
- Audio Artist: $83,300-$105,000
- Cartoonist: $116,000-$125,000
- CG Animator: $83,000-$89,000 (Full-time)/ $56-$60 (hourly contractor)
- Effects Artist: $103,000-112,000
- Layout Artist: $1,46,187-$1,58,672
- Lighting Artist: $127,000-138,000
- Synthetic Data Artist: $115,000-$155,000
- VFX Artist: $124,000-$133,000
Other Perks Of Being A Disney Animator:
Other than the great payscale and new experiences, Disney has other benefits and perks for its animators. Some of them are given below.
- Health Insurance, Wellness Assistance.
- 401K Plan for Retirement, Financial assistance.
- Paid paternal and maternal leaves and work from home opportunity, Parenting help, and Child assistance.
- Paid and unpaid Leave, Vacation, and Time Off.
- Discounts on Disney land visits and hotels everywhere in the world.
- Recognition and scope of career growth.
Way To Be A Disney Animator:
There are certain technical and personality traits an animator should have and keep in mind before joining Disney. And the competition is harder than ever.
- First of all, you need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in an animation-related field to be a Disney animator. Gone are the days when people were hired solely based on skills. To understand today’s latest technologies and with so many applying for the same post, a formal educational qualification narrows down the applications.
- Working with the world’s biggest animation studio is no steady walk in the park. While your skill matters, some prior work experience may reflect positively on your resume.
- Animators and Cartoonists start by doodling on the last pages of notebooks. But it is more than that. And you will have many people to tell you the opposite. The Disney employee tag might help you a little but above all, you should be respectful and demand respect from others for your job.
- You need to have great pressure-handling skills and push your limits. Some surveys have found a general dislike to work/life disbalance and dissatisfaction among Disney Animation Studios employees. But you have to sometimes work harder to meet a deadline.
- You should be a team player. Animation is not a one-man job. It is the fruit of a team of 100+ people from different domains working together.
- You need to be a multitasker and a good storyteller.
Conclusion
In the end, it all comes down to the work ethic and quality of work that you put in. Entering this highly competitive industry and becoming a Disney animator is equal parts fun and trying. Sometimes you need to work 80 hours a week, meet deadlines, and be a team player. And you also need to respect your job. But you get to work on your dream from childhood and maybe even create a childhood for the upcoming generations. And with the attractive CTC, you will be happy with your workplace.
FAQ
- What degree do I need to become a Disney animator?
To work with Disney as an animator, you need a bachelor’s (or even master’s) degree in related fields like Computer Animation. Although there are some fresher posts, having animation-related work experience will strengthen your chance of getting a job at Disney.
- Which one is the most successful animation movie ever by Disney?
All of the Disney movies, starting from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) to date, are popular. But in terms of box office collection, The Lion King (2019) is the most successful animation movie ever made by Disney.
- Does Warner Brothers pay its animators more than Disney?
Warner Brothers and Disney are the two powerhouses of animation movies. Their employee benefits are also comparable despite having slight nuance here and there. According to a Glassdoor report, employee benefits in WB are rated 0.6 higher than in Walt Disney Animation Studios.
- Can a college dropout get an animation job at Disney?
Generally, you need at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field to apply for a job at Disney. But in rare cases, animators get hired solely based on their work experiences.
