Career comparison
Animator vs. Graphic Designer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Animators earn more at the median ($102,030 vs. $62,960), while graphic designers usually get to work faster (4 years or portfolio-based training of training). Animators bring characters, worlds and effects to life for film, games and media. Graphic designers create logos, layouts and visuals that communicate ideas and build brands.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Animator | Graphic Designer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $102,030 ($49.06/hr) | $62,960 ($30.27/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,600 – $177,110 | $39,520 – $104,910 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | -0.3% (little or no change) | -1.7% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 4,200 | 16,000 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years plus reel | 4 years or portfolio-based training |
| Key credential | Autodesk Certified Professional | Adobe Certified Professional |
| Work setting | Animators work in studios or remotely at computers, often on teams with tight production schedules.. | Designers work in studios, offices or remotely, at computers for most of the day.. |
What each job does
Animator
- Create storyboards and concepts
- Model and rig characters and objects
- Animate characters and scenes
- Create visual effects
- Composite and render shots
Graphic Designer
- Meet with clients to understand goals
- Develop design concepts
- Design logos, layouts and graphics
- Select typography, color and images
- Prepare files for print and digital
How they’re similar
Both careers involve creative work, desk work, indoor work, and working independently. Both are part of the arts, media & design field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose animator if…
- I love animation and games
- I’m artistic
- I’m patient with detail
Choose graphic designer if…
- I love visual design
- I notice fonts and layouts
- I take feedback well
Still torn? Take the Animator fit quiz and the Graphic Designer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, animator or graphic designer?
Animators earn more at the median: $102,030 versus $62,960 for graphic designers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Graphic Designers typically train faster (4 years or portfolio-based training) than animators (4 years plus reel).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects animators to grow -0.3% from 2025–35, compared with -1.7% for graphic designers.