Can you make money as a motion designer?

Can You Make Money as a Motion Designer?

From storytelling to animation, the motion graphics industry is, in our opinion, the most exciting industry in the world. Like most artistic disciplines, professional motion designers know that Motion Design is ultimately not about the money; it's about creating meaningful work. As a result, you must have the will, passion, and determination to see projects through to completion even when times get tough. But with enough hard work (and a lot of Red Bull), you'll get there!

What Is Motion Design?

Motion Designers are problem solvers who use their artistic skills to tell stories through animation and design. Motion Design is everywhere, and the industry is growing year after year. Motion Designers are more than animators; they're storytellers with skills that go far beyond a single application or artistic discipline.

Motion Designer Salaries

Average Motion Design Salary: $62,000 a Year

According to a 2017 poll featuring 1300 active motion designers, the overall average Motion Design salary is $62,000 a year, and the average freelance motion designer salary is $65,000 a year. Freelance motion designers book contract gigs with clients or studios rather than working full-time for a single company. Salaries generally range from $40K to $83K per year, but these salaries can obviously be higher or lower depending on your experience in the industry. The longer you're in the industry, the more money you typically make. And if you own your own studio, the sky's the limit.

One of the challenges with mapping out a Motion Design salary is the simple fact that so many people in our industry pull the majority of their income from freelance projects. Motion Designers are small business owners, and most of these businesses only have one employee—you.

Cities with the Best Salaries for Motion Designers

Location plays a big role when it comes to in-house salaries. Obviously, cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York pay more than the average city for motion graphics designers. Here's a quick breakdown of what you can expect in these locations:

San Francisco

• Average Salary: $85,000 per year
• Salary Range: $56,000 to $147,000 per year
• Median Household Income: $92,000 per year
• Median House/Condo Value: $941,000
• Median Gross Rent: $1,600 per month

The average salary for motion designers in San Francisco is $85,000 a year. This is undoubtedly due to the high cost of living and demand for Motion Designers in the tech industry. New technological achievements have made it possible for Motion Designers to work on UI/UX projects without writing a single line of code. We strongly believe that the motion design industry in San Francisco will only continue to grow over the next few years[^1^].

Remember, while the financial aspect is essential, passion and creativity drive motion designers. So, if you're passionate about creating captivating animations and visual stories, the money will follow! 🎨💡✨