Seattle has a thriving creative scene, offering animation opportunities in industries like film, gaming, tech, advertising, and education. It also offers competitive salaries and a wide range of different types of opportunities, ranging from roles at small startups to positions with tech giants. According to the City of Seattle, creative industries, which include roles in animation, play a significant role in the city’s economy. It says, “Seattle's creative workforce drives 18 percent of the city's GDP… That's four times the national average.”
Seattle Industries That Employ Animators
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Film: According to the City of Seattle, film is one of its largest creative industries. The city reports that more than 4,000 people were employed in the film industry in 2024, which includes hundreds of freelancers with many different specialties. In addition to film companies, the city has several animation studios, including Starfire Animation Studio, AJAX Creative, Pixeldust Studios, and Creamy Animation.
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Video Game: Seattle is a video game hub, supporting more than 48,000 jobs, according to Greater Seattle Partners. Nintendo of America is based in Redmond, which is just 15 miles east of Seattle. Microsoft, another major company in the video gaming industry, is also headquartered in Redmond. Big Fish Games is based in Seattle. Greater Seattle calls this area the “Hollywood of video gaming” and says, “Washington state ranks No. 2 in the nation for video game industry economic output, generating $13.9 billion annually.”
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Marketing: Many marketing companies in Seattle hire animation experts.
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Education: Visit Seattle explains that education is an important industry in Seattle. This city has many world-class universities, a very high percentage of college graduates, and is the most literate city in the country, according to Visit Seattle.
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Tech: Numerous large tech companies, including Meta and Amazon, have a presence in Seattle, and they hire animation experts for a variety of different roles.
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Virtual Reality: With its strength in tech, Seattle has also become a pioneer in virtual and augmented reality technologies, where animation plays a key role. The City of Seattle says, “Over the years, Seattle's investments in VR technology have positioned the region as a pioneer in this dynamic space. Visionary thinkers, talented engineers, and savvy investors have come together to push the boundaries of gaming, publishing, live streaming, hardware, and real-life applications.” Notable Seattle companies in virtual and augmented reality include Magic Leap, Pixvana, and Mechanical Dreams.
Seattle Employment Trends for Animation
The job market in Seattle is strong, and most experts predict consistent future growth, particularly in animation-related industries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) discusses jobs for Special Effects Artists and Animators. It finds that the Seattle metropolitan area has the second highest employment level in the country for Special Effects Artists and Animators, with more than 2,200 people employed, and projects steady future growth for jobs in this field. It explains, “Projected employment growth will be due to demand for animation and visual effects in video games, movies, and television. Consumer demand will continue for more realistic video games, movie and television special effects, and three-dimensional movies. Additional special effects artists and animators will be required to meet increased demand for these enhanced visual complexities.” In addition, the agency says, “Continued demand for computer graphics for mobile devices such as smartphones, will lead to more job opportunities. Special effects artists will be needed to create animation for games and for mobile applications.” According to the BLS, the annual mean wage for this role in Seattle is approximately $117,000.
Animation Jobs in Seattle
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3D Modeler:$84,000 (Glassdoor)
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Animator: $95,000 (Glassdoor)
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Concept Artist:$75,000 (Indeed)
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Visual Effects Artist: $98,000 (Indeed)
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Motion Graphics Artist: $94,000 (Glassdoor)
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Multimedia Designer:$63,000 (Indeed)
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Video Editor:$76,000 (Glassdoor)
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Video Game Designer: $172,000 (Indeed)
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VFX Artist:$120,000 (Talent.com)
Future Outlook for Opportunities in Animation in Seattle
Greater Seattle Partners stresses that Seattle’s creative industries—which includes animation—are a vital part of the region’s economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating billions of dollars in revenue. It sees no sign of a future slowdown, stating, “The creative economy is a burgeoning industry in Greater Seattle. With 10% growth projected by 2028, the sector continues to drive innovation, economic impact, and cultural influence worldwide.”