Best cities for an Animator
The best cities for animators are Henderson, NV, Reno, NV, and San Francisco, CA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for animators vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for animators in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an animator or considering a move, this list of the best cities for animators to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for animators. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an animator. While the absolute best city for animators is Henderson, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for animators in 2024.
Henderson, NV
Total Animator Jobs:2
Average Annual Salary:$128,946
Location Quotient:45.71
If you're looking for an Animator job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for Animators In 2025
1. Henderson, NV
Total Animator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $128,946 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $202,000 Location quotient: 45.71 2. Reno, NV
Total Animator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $139,927 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $221,000 Location quotient: 25.27 3. San Francisco, CA
Total Animator jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $111,606 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 32.99 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total Animator jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $130,424 Lowest 10 percent warn: $82,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $205,000 Location quotient: 16.16 5. Sacramento, CA
Total Animator jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $110,819 Lowest 10 percent warn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $174,000 Location quotient: 9.13 6. Los Angeles, CA
Total Animator jobs: 71 Average annual salary: $97,148 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $151,000 Location quotient: 52.53 7. Irvine, CA
Total Animator jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $94,867 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 76.63 8. Baltimore, MD
Total Animator jobs: 5 Average annual salary: $93,462 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 10.31 9. Santa Ana, CA
Total Animator jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $95,235 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 25.42 10. Seattle, WA
Total Animator jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $94,715 Lowest 10 percent warn: $60,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $147,000 Location quotient: 7.51
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Best cities for animators
- Henderson, NV
- Reno, NV
- San Francisco, CA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Sacramento, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Baltimore, MD
- Santa Ana, CA
- Seattle, WA
- (2 animator jobs)
- (3 animator jobs)
- (52 animator jobs)
- (6 animator jobs)
- (3 animator jobs)
- (71 animator jobs)
- (33 animator jobs)
- (5 animator jobs)
- (2 animator jobs)
- (10 animator jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an Animator
Rank  | City | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henderson, NV | $128,946 | $82,000 | 292,969 | 2 |
| 2 | Reno, NV | $139,927 | $88,000 | 245,255 | 3 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $111,606 | $71,000 | 870,887 | 52 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $130,424 | $82,000 | 632,912 | 6 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $110,819 | $70,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $97,148 | $62,000 | 3,976,322 | 71 |
| 7 | Irvine, CA | $94,867 | $61,000 | 266,122 | 33 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $93,462 | $61,000 | 614,664 | 5 |
| 9 | Santa Ana, CA | $95,235 | $61,000 | 334,217 | 2 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $94,715 | $60,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 11 | North Las Vegas, NV | $130,271 | $82,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 12 | Oakland, CA | $111,442 | $70,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 13 | Fremont, CA | $111,140 | $70,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 14 | San Jose, CA | $110,932 | $70,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 15 | Stockton, CA | $110,766 | $70,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $107,477 | $70,000 | 681,170 | 3 |
| 17 | San Diego, CA | $91,782 | $59,000 | 1,406,630 | 29 |
| 18 | Raleigh, NC | $76,228 | $49,000 | 458,880 | 4 |
| 19 | Fresno, CA | $108,517 | $68,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 20 | Cleveland, OH | $75,908 | $49,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 21 | Columbus, OH | $73,748 | $47,000 | 860,090 | 4 |
| 22 | Bakersfield, CA | $103,438 | $65,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 23 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,717 | $51,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 24 | Toledo, OH | $74,648 | $48,000 | 278,508 | - |
| 25 | Detroit, MI | $77,611 | $50,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 26 | Albuquerque, NM | $80,085 | $51,000 | 559,277 | - |
| 27 | Fort Wayne, IN | $74,646 | $48,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 28 | Long Beach, CA | $95,804 | $61,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,356 | $49,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 30 | Virginia Beach, VA | $86,927 | $56,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 31 | Anaheim, CA | $95,640 | $61,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 32 | Indianapolis, IN | $72,502 | $46,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 33 | Norfolk, VA | $86,851 | $56,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 34 | Durham, NC | $76,345 | $49,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 35 | New York, NY | $80,766 | $53,000 | 8,537,673 | 79 |
| 36 | Riverside, CA | $95,256 | $61,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 37 | Chesapeake, VA | $86,605 | $56,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 38 | Nashville, TN | $67,204 | $42,000 | 660,388 | 3 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $75,476 | $48,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 40 | Charlotte, NC | $72,544 | $46,000 | 842,051 | 6 |
| 41 | Madison, WI | $64,833 | $42,000 | 252,551 | 5 |
| 42 | Winston-Salem, NC | $75,025 | $48,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 43 | Cincinnati, OH | $71,350 | $46,000 | 298,800 | - |
| 44 | Wichita, KS | $73,511 | $47,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 45 | Chula Vista, CA | $91,387 | $59,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 46 | Lexington, KY | $69,613 | $44,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 47 | Phoenix, AZ | $70,077 | $45,000 | 1,615,017 | 6 |
| 48 | Portland, OR | $79,115 | $50,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 49 | Louisville, KY | $68,675 | $44,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 50 | Memphis, TN | $66,523 | $42,000 | 652,717 | - |
Highest paying cities for animators
| Rank | City | Avg. Animator Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las Vegas, NV | $130,424 |
| 2 | Novato, CA | $111,758 |
| 3 | Greenwich, CT | $110,980 |
| 4 | Vancouver, WA | $95,164 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $93,462 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $80,766 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,717 |
| 8 | Cary, NC | $76,101 |
| 9 | Fort Lee, NJ | $72,958 |
| 10 | Glendale, AZ | $70,123 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $64,833 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $60,767 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $56,570 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,027 |
| 15 | Orlando, FL | $53,393 |
| 16 | Boston, MA | $52,991 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $51,687 |
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Updated January 8, 2025