2010 Motion Graphic Design Census

8 hrs.

-8 hrs.11 hrs.

9 hrs.

10 hrs.

motiongraphicdesigncensus.org

2010Motion GraphicDesign Census

5,520total responses worldwide.

2,605total responses in the USA.

2,915total responses outside the USA.

First, let me apologize for the delay in getting this actually done and out to you. I bit off much more than I could chew with this project! I’m not making any excuses, but 2010 was a very busy year for me. Getting the time to get this done was a major challenge.

The original survey was also way too complicated, with too many ques-tions, too much fine detail, and too many topics covered. I’m still inter-ested in answering everything we asked, but some of the detail in the survey was frankly, overkill.

Also, covering the entire world with one survey is probably impossible, and definitely shortchanges regional concerns and economic differ-ences that aren’t easily compared. Most of this survey focuses on the US Responses – since it is where I live and work, and it’s the country whose economic system I am familiar with. Pages 3-36 are responses for the US Only. I have done a brief analysis of median salaries for the non-US countries, which is included here. If you would like to partner with us to analyze the data and follow up in your own country, please get in touch with me via the website.

This year we’ve narrowed our focus to 5 simple questions and to one specific country. The new survey for the US is available now via the website. Please take a minute to fill it out.

We still believe that an open, accessible survey of salaries is important in our industry. Recently, some notable visual effects studios have been sued in Federal Court for collusion, and others are now participating in closed salary surveys amongst themselves. As artists in this industry, we want to share what information we have so that we can all gain some leverage in negotiating for ourselves. I hope to continue this survey in coming years so we can build on our base of information.

The 2009 Motion Graphic Design Census questionnaire was written by Jake Sargeant and Bran Dougherty-Johnson. The survey was hosted online at Motionographer.com in December of 2009. The results were analyzed by Bran Dougherty-Johnson in 2010.

– Bran Dougherty-Johnson, January [email protected]

8 hrs.

-8 hrs.

A Note on the Survey

US Responses

+10

109

8 76 5

43 2

1<1

All Responses:

Years of Experience:49295148109118187208242296291248173

+10 Years:10 Years:9 Years:8 Years:7 Years:6 Years:5 Years:4 Years:3 Years:2 Years:1 Year:

< 1 Year:

18 19 2021 22232425262728293031 32333435363738394041 42 4344454647 48495051 52 5354555657 60615859

All Responses:

Age:262933

25th Percentile:Median:

75th Percentile:

All Responses:

What hardware platform did you usethe most often in 2009?

25265112043

PC

FlameLinux

Mac

All Responses:

What software program did you usethe most often in 2009?(top 10 responses)

13954301971471126156402921

PhotoshopFinal Cut Pro

MayaCinema 4D

Flash3D Studio MaxIllustratorAvidFlame

After Effects

Yes

No

All responses:

Did you go to school and graduatein a field relating to yourcurrent profession?2006569

Yes:No:

BA

Some HS

HSSome College

AssociateDegree

GraduateDegree

All responses:

What is the highest levelof education you received?58502742121757254

Some High School:High School:

Some College:Associate Degree:Bachelors Degree:Graduate Degree:

All Responses

Are you a US Citizen?2,483121

Yes

No

Yes:No:

NoYes

Self-Employed, Day-Rate

Do you charge overtime?277220

No:Yes:

NoYes

Self-Employed, Hourly Rate

Do you charge overtime?137102

No:Yes:

No

Yes

Staff

Does the company you workfor pay you overtime?1272379

No:Yes:

Self-employed, Day Rate:

Your Day Rate is based on?less than 8 hrs:

8 hrs:9 hrs:

10 hrs:more than 10 hrs:

41358125027

8 hrs.

9 hrs.10 hrs.

+10 hrs. -8 hrs.

8 hrs.

-8 hrs.11 hrs.

12 hrs.+12 hrs.

9 hrs.

10 hrs.

Staff:

How long is yourtypical day at work?

less than 8 hrs:8 hrs:9 hrs:

10 hrs:11 hrs:12 hrs:

more than 12 hrs:

113550530344553722

Oral

EmailWrittenContract

None

Self-employed:

How do you make agreementswith your clients?38920333426

Email:Oral:

Written:None:

Day Rate

PerProject

HourlyRate

Self-employed

How did you mainly chargeyour clients in 2009?497239217

Day-Rate:Hourly Rate:Per Project:

50/50Remotely

On-Site

Self-employed

Do you work on site or remotelymost often?486251215

On-Site:50/50:

Remotely:

393418836813222161052

12113

Self-employed:

Hourly Rate:<$35:

$35:$40:$45:$50:$55:$60:$65:$70:$75:$80:$85:$90:$95:

$100:$105:

> $110:

<$35

$35

$40

$45

$50

$55

$60

$65

$70

$75

$80

$85$90

$100

$105

$110+

111125111211142212032833714148114811661462121511211222411111

Self-employed:

Day Rate:$80:

$100:$111:$120:$125:$150:$175:$180:$200:$220:$240:$250:$260:$275:$280:$300:$320:$350:$375:$400:$425:$450:$475:$500:$525:$550:$560:$575:$600:$625:$650:$675:$677:$680:$700:$715:$750:$775:$800:$850:$900:

$1000:$1200:$1250:$1500:$1600:$2500:

$625 $650 $700 $750 $800$675 $677 $680 $715 $775 $850 $900 $1000 $1200 $1250 $1500 $1600 $2500

$80 $300 $320 $375$100 $111 $120 $125 $350 $400$150 $175 $180 $220 $240 $260 $275 $280$250$200

$425 $475 $525 $560 $575$450 $550 $600$500

Annual Income:

Self-Employed:

All Jobs (954)$30,000$60,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

Staff

All Jobs (1651)$40,000$50,000$80,000


75th Percentile:

All Responses:

All Jobs (2605)$30,000$50,000$80,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000

Range of all responsesMedian, StaffMedian, Self-employedMedian, All Responses

Job Title (# of responses)

Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Animator (80)$20,000$60,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Animator (90)$30,000$40,000$60,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000

Range of all responsesMedian, StaffMedian, Self-employed


Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Art Director (49)$50,000$90,000$130,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Art Director (142)$60,000$80,000$100,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Assistant Editor (N/A)

Staff:

Assistant Editor (18)$20,000$30,000$50,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Associate Creative Director (N/A)

Staff:

Associate Creative Director (6)$110,000$120,000$130,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Associate Producer (N/A)

Staff:

Associate Producer (8)$40,000$50,000$60,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Concept Artist (5)<$20,000<$20,000<$20,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Concept Artist (N/A)

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

CG Generalist (63)$40,000$60,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

CG Generalist (65)$40,000$60,000$80,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Compositor (29)<$20,000$20,000$100,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Compositor (15)$30,000$40,000$50,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Coordinator (N/A)

Staff:

Coordinator (8)$30,000$30,000$40,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Designer (65)<$20,000$30,000$50,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Designer (137)$30,000$40,000$50,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Creative Director (87)$30,000$70,000$100,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Creative Director (134)$40,000$80,000$130,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Designer / Animator (370)$30,000$60,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Designer / Animator (577)$30,000$50,000$60,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Director (25)$30,000$70,000$120,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Director (11)$50,000$60,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Editor (69)<$20,000$30,000$70,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Editor (127)$30,000$40,000$50,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Executive Producer (7)$30,000$80,000$130,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Executive Producer (18)$50,000$110,000$140,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Flame Artist (N/A)

Staff:

Flame Artist (15)$60,000$80,000$150,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Flash Developer (N/A)

Staff:

Flash Developer (6)$40,000$60,000$70,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Intern (N/A)

Staff:

Intern (14)<$20,000<$20,000<$20,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Principal / Partner (N/A)

Staff:

Principal / Partner (9)$70,000$90,000$150,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Producer (19)$40,000$60,000$100,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Producer (49)$40,000$50,000$70,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Rotoscope Artist (69)<$20,000$30,000$60,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Rotoscope Artist (N/A):

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Senior Designer (37)$50,000$80,000$100,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Senior Designer (140)$50,000$70,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Senior Producer (10)$30,000$40,000$90,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Senior Producer (16)$50,000$80,000$110,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Technical Director (N/A)

Staff:

Technical Director (49)$80,000$100,000$130,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Annual Income:

Self-employed:

Visual Effects Supervisor (10)$80,000$90,000$160,000


75th Percentile:

Staff:

Visual Effects Supervisor (11)$80,000$100,000$150,000


75th Percentile:

less than$20,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000 $100,000 $110,000 $120,000 $130,000 $140,000 $150,000 $160,000 $170,000 $180,000 $190,000 $200,000



Non-US: All Responses, Annual Income:

Argentina (49)Median: <$20,000

Australia (83)Median: $50,000

Austria (7)Median: $30,000

Belgium (21)Median: $30,000

Brazil (87)Median: $20,000

Bulgaria (8)Median: <$20,000

Canada (157)Median: $40,000

Chile (8)Median: <$20,000

China (7)Median: $50,000

Colombia (6)Median: <$20,000

Denmark (13)Median: $80,000

Egypt (9)Median: <$20,000

Finland (10)Median: $40,000

France (70)Median: $40,000

Germany (88)Median: $30,000

Greece (7)Median: $40,000

Hong Kong (11)Median: $30,000

Hungary (6)Median: <$20,000

India (30)Median: <$20,000

Indonesia (11)Median: <$20,000

Israel (70)Median: $20,000

Italy (37)Median: $20,000

Japan (11)Median: $30,000

Malaysia (18)Median: <$20,000

Mexico (42)Median: <$20,000

Netherlands (50)Median: $30,000

New Zealand (16)Median: $50,000

Norway (37)Median: $80,000

Pakistan (10)Median: <$20,000

Philippines (9)Median: <$20,000

Poland (20)Median: $20,000

Portugal (41)Median: <$20,000

Romania (17)Median: <$20,000

Russia (21)Median: <$20,000

Singapore (15)Median: $20,000

South Korea (8)Median: $20,000

South Africa (11)Median: $20,000

Spain (75)Median: $20,000

Sweden (27)Median: $40,000

Switzerland (12)Median: $50,000

Thailand (7)Median: <$20,000

Taiwan (11)Median: <$20,000

Turkey (13)Median: $30,000

U.K (177)Median: $40,000

Venezuela (8)Median: $30,000

motiongraphicdesigncensus.org Thank you.

Documents

2010 Motion Graphic Design Census