2D Animator Job Outlook

While the job outlook for 2D Animators lags slightly behind its 3D counterpart, the future looks solid for 2D animation specialists. According to the BLS, job growth for Animators is expected to keep steady with the national average over the next decade, and several sectors of the industry are expected to experience significant growth. While this job growth is likely to continue to be geographically centered in major American cities and in a handful of industries, the job outlook for 2D Animators is still looking strong.

What is a 2D Animator?

2D Animators are creative professionals who plan, design, and build two-dimensional animated assets in everything from traditional animation and video games to digital advertising and user interfaces. As long as a digital asset is made to move, it is likely that a 2D Animator was involved in the process. 2D Animators may also be involved in the development, design, planning, or storyboarding phases of a given project, depending on their level of expertise and the kind of project in question. On the whole, 2D animation is a versatile skill used in various industries and fields, making it an ideal career path for anyone interested in a creative career.

In today’s world, unless a project consciously uses the unique affordances of hand-drawn animation, almost all 2D animation work is computer-assisted. This shift means most Animators have begun using computer design applications such as Adobe After Effects or Premiere Pro to add the illusion of motion to a set of static images. 2D Animators may also use tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to construct certain kinds of specific animated assets such as moving digital logos or online GIFs. This emphasis on digitally aided animation tools means that your training as a 2D Animator will cover a lot of technical training.

Read more about what a 2D Animator does.

What is the Job Outlook for 2D Animation?

Job Outlook

The BLS anticipates that the digital animation field will expand by about 5% over the next decade. This is roughly in line with the anticipated job growth within the overall economy, but it is a sign that animation careers are holding steady in the job market. Self-employment numbers are expected to remain steady at under 66% of the overall career field. However, 2D animation specialists will compose a significantly smaller percentage of self-employed vs. studio workers. Pure 2D animation specialists (those with no 3D rendering, video editing, or complementary skills training) are likely to see job opportunities contract, but knowing 2D animation as part of a larger toolkit will remain a solid career choice for creatives and Animators.

Future Growth

2D Animation Will Continue to Be a Growing Career Field Provided That the Major Industries That Sustain It—the Entertainment Industry and the Software Development Industry—continue to Thrive. As More and More Cities Aim to Court Movie Studios and Tech Firms, 2D Animator Jobs Are Likely to See the Long-term Benefits of These Investments. While 2D Animation Will Likely Continue to Be Increasingly Coupled with 3D Animation Owing to New Technological Developments, There is No Reason to Assume That 2D Animator Jobs Won’t Continue to Grow in Tandem with the Industries They Are Most Associated With.

Industries

As Noted, the Two Industries That Employ the Most 2D Animators—film and Television, and Consumer Software Development—are Expected to Continue Growing over the Next Decade and Likely Beyond. Aside from These Two Major Industries, 2D Animator Positions Are Not Significant Outliers from the Rest of the Economy. over the Next Decade, As with Most Creative Fields, Job Growth is Expected to Be Largest in the Live Event Promotions Industry and the Consumer Sector of Online, Non-physical Retail. Significant Job Contraction is Expected Within the Cable Television and Traditional Broadcasting Industries.

Salary

2D Animator Salaries in the US Average Approximately $62,000 a Year, Which is Higher Than the National Average. Starting Salaries for 2D Animators Tend to Be Slightly Lower Than Average, Generally Hovering in the Mid-$50,000s, Depending on the Firm You Join and Where You Work. an Advantage of Finding Work in 2D Animation is That the Industry Offers a Wide Range of Career Development Opportunities, and You Can Easily Expand Your Career Training to Improve Your Overall Earning Potential. Learning Project Management or Technical Skills Such As 3D Animation Can Significantly Boost Your Salary.

How Do I Find a 2D Animator Job?

Finding a Job As a 2D Animator Can Seem Daunting at First, Especially Given How Many Different Job Titles There Are for Entry-level 2D Animation Work. Still, There Are a Few Consistent Factors You’ll Need to Consider When Looking for a Job in the Field.

The First, and Most Obvious, Step is to Find a Job Opening That Matches Your Interests and Level of Training or Experience. Most Job Offerings Today Are Posted on Aggregate Sites Like Glassdoor.com, Indeed.com, or LinkedIn. Since These Are Large Job Aggregation Sites, You’ll Need to Play Around with Your Search Terms to Find the Job That Best Fits Your Needs. You’ll Also Want to Check Posted Job Requirements to See If You Match the Company's Criteria, and Consider Mundane Factors Like How Recently the Job Was Posted, to Gauge Whether Your Application Might Be Too Late to Get Noticed. a Common Downside to These Sites is That Many Companies Don’t Frequently Update Postings Once a Position Has Been Filled.

Once You’ve Found a Suitable Job Posting, Start Building Your Job Materials to Give Yourself the Most Competitive Chance at Landing the Position. Noble Provides Detailed Articles on Each of the Major Aspects of Your Job Materials, and at Minimum, You’ll Need to Ensure That Your resume, cover Letter, and portfolio Are Strong Enough to Warrant Consideration. the Portfolio, in Particular, Will Be the Most Important Part of Your Application, Since It Demonstrates to Potential Employers the Skills You Possess and the Types of Projects You Are Best Suited to Work On.

Learn the Skills to Become a 2D Animator at Noble Desktop

Once You’ve Committed to Learning the Skills Necessary to Become a 2D Animator, Noble Desktop is Available to Make That Dream a Reality Through Professional Skills Instruction. Noble Offers a Wide Array of 2D Animation Classes, Available In-person or Online, and All of These Classes Are Taught by Expert Instructors with Years of On-the-job Experience. This Structure Ensures That Regardless of How Your Course is Delivered, You’ll Receive Real-time Instruction, Be Able to Ask Questions, and Get Personalized Feedback on Your Work. Additionally, Whether You Take the Course In-person or Online, You’ll Benefit from Small Class Sizes and Professional Development Support Options, Including One-on-one Career Mentoring in the Career Certificate Programs. Finally, Every Noble Class Includes the Option for a Free Retake Within One Year, Allowing You to Build Your Portfolio and Gain Even More Hands-on Experience in Preparation for Entering the Job Market.

Students Interested in a Career Change May Consider Enrolling in Noble’s Motion Graphics Certificate Program. This Class Teaches Students How to Use Tools Like Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro to Create Evocative 2D and 3D Animated Assets for Practical Projects. in This Class, Students Will Be Guided Through the Process of Using After Effects to Animate Text, Photos, and Videos, and Will Learn How to Modify These Animations in Subtle but Perceptible Ways. Students Will Also Learn How to Create Animated Images Using Layered Photoshop and Illustrator Files (this Course Does Not Include Instruction in Either of These Tools, As They Are Prerequisites). Finally, Students Will Learn How to Use Premiere Pro to Edit Their Animated Assets into Video Files. the Course Culminates in a Series of Professional Development Seminars, Including a Portfolio-building Workshop and One-on-one Mentorship Session, Designed to Prepare Students for a Career As a 2D or 3D Animator.

Students Who Aren’t Ready for a Significant Career Shift but Want to Learn 2D Animation Skills Might Consider One of Noble’s Many Motion Graphics Bootcamps. These Include the Adobe After Effects Bootcamp, Providing Students with Guided Instruction in After Effects for Creating Animated Digital Assets, and the Adobe Premiere Pro Bootcamp, Teaching Students How to Compile Animated Assets into Completed Projects. These Courses Are Excellent Starting Points for New Animators. However, They Don’t Include the Professional Development Services Offered Through Noble’s Career Certificate Programs.

Finally, Students Who Aren’t yet Certain About Starting to Learn 2D Animation but Are Intrigued by the Possibility Should Consult Noble’s Free Training Resources. Noble’s Learn 2D Animation Page, As Well As Their Learn After Effects and Learn Premiere Pro Pages Compile a Wide Range of Articles, Free Seminars, and Resources to Help Students on Their 2D Animation Career Path. Noble Also Provides Prospective 2D Animators with a Career Information Hub to Help Them Determine If a Career Change is Right for Them.