How To Become A 3D Animator: What It Is and Career Path

What is a 3d animator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

The field of animation is booming and so is the demand for skilled 3D animators. Based on the 2018-2028 projection range by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career has an expected growth rate of 4 percent and produces 3,000 job opportunities across the United States.

3D animators bring inanimate images to life through movement. Unlike the 2D animators who create images with only width and height, the 3D animators create images with width, height, and depth. It is the addition of depth in 3D animation that create more life-like images. 3D animators work independently, as well as collaboratively, and their typical day at work is characterized by the following activities: researching on projects to get animation ideas, reading scripts and storylines to understand animation requirements , storyboarding, which is the creation of a working model of scenes that are to be animated , synchronizing frames and audios, developing (electronically or by hand) models, drawings, and illustrations

This role requires individuals with an eye for detail, as well as expert knowledge and mastery of animation software, like Blender, Adobe Animate, Maya, and Cinema 4D. For a full-time job, the average 3D animator makes $77,410.

Score3D AnimatorUS Average

Salary

5.7

Avg. Salary $73,596

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

6.3

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%

Asian 7.56%

Black or African American 4.30%

Hispanic or Latino 14.03%

Unknown 5.92%

White 67.37%

Gender

female 16.64%

male 83.36%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress Level

6.3

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.2

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a 3d animator

Explore 3d animator education requirements

Most common 3d animator degrees

Bachelor's

71.6 %

Associate

13.4 %

Master's

9.3 %

Start to develop specific 3d animator skills

Skills	Percentages
Animation	30.43%
Storyboards	4.89%
Visualization	4.70%
Motion Capture	4.36%
Motion Graphics	4.00%

Complete relevant 3d animator training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 3d animators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a 3d animator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real 3d animator resumes.

Research 3d animator duties and responsibilities

Manage design collaboration and storyboard creations.
Attend pre-production meetings and film shootings to assist directors in vfx shoot execution.
Animate in-game characters and cinematic sequences for transmedia projects on iOS and PC.
Animate monster truck 3D characters in Maya for a children's programming Youtube channel.

Prepare your 3d animator resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 3d animator resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a 3d animator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable 3D Animator Resume templates

Build a professional 3D Animator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your 3D Animator resume.

Apply for 3d animator jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a 3d animator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do 3d animators rate their job?