Kansas Animation Careers: Employment & Salary Trends, Job Opportunities, & Colleges Offering Animation Programs in Kansas

Animation Careers in Kansas

Overview - Kansas may not be the obvious choice for anyone interested in a career in animation, but this state is quite active in the film industry, gaming, and multimedia art. The state of Kansas is also home to:

• The Film Commission of Greater Kansas City
• Roughly 45 animation, visual effects, and production studios
• A wide variety of training programs offered at community and 4-year colleges
• More than 65 technology firms offering opportunities for animators with a computer science background

In Kansas, animators are likely to be found working at production studios, in the technology sector, and schools. Animators interested in working in education can choose from a number of academic institutions throughout the state. Kansas is home to 67 colleges and universities and 1,447 elementary and secondary schools.

Employment and Salary Trends for Kansas Animators

As of 2009, approximately 160 animators worked in production studios, schools, and technology firms throughout the state of Kansas. Across the nation, employment in the animation (and multi-media) industry is expected to grow by 14 percent for the 2008-2018 decade. This is higher than all occupations in the “artists and related workers” industry. At 12 percent, art directors are second in employment growth, followed by fine artists at 9 percent.

As of May 2009, the mean annual wage for animators overall was $62,810 per year. The lowest paid animators earned $32,360 per year and the highest paid animators earned $99,130 per year. As of May 2009, animators in the state of Kansas earned a mean salary of $34,170 per year. Although this is less than animator salaries in most states, the cost of living in the state of Kansas is significantly lower than most states.

The highest paying states for animators are:

• California ($76,010 per year)
• Maryland ($66,850 per year)
• Washington  ($64,840 per year)
• New York ($62,150 per year)

Animation Career Opportunities in Kansas

Aspiring animators interested in working on film and video productions may find employment at the following Kansas animation firms and production studios:

• Wombat Studios, Overland Park
• Blue Wall Design, Kansas City
• Real Media Digital production, Overland Park
• Gizmo Pictures, Topeka
• Foundation Media Solutions, Kansas City
• Intake Studio, Kansas City

Although animation positions can be found in most cities throughout the state of Kansas, many are located in principal cities such as Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Topeka, Olathe, and Lawrence.

Kansas Animation Training Programs

Kansas offers access to animation programs offered at:

• University of Kansas, Department of Design, Lawrence
• Kansas State university, Department of Art, Manhattan
• Butler Community College, El Dorado
• Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC), Kansas City
• Johnson County Community College, Overland Park
• Labette Community College, Parsons

More Animation related programs to consider:  

To get started on a career in animation, you can begin by choosing one of the following degree programs:

• Animation
• Multi-media art
• Computer science with a focus in animation or multi-media art
• Fine art with a focus in animation
• Advertising with a focus in animation

In addition to offering a degree in animation or multi-media art, most of the schools listed in this article offer degrees in the related fields mentioned above.

SOURCE: May 2009 BLS State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates,

2008-18. http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm