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Massachusetts Animation Careers: Employment & Salary Trends, Job Opportunities, & Colleges Offering Animation Programs in Massachusetts
Animation Careers in Massachusetts
Overview: Because of the popularity of Boston as a backdrop and attractive film incentives, Massachusetts has a healthy film and video industry. This attracts filmmakers and post-production houses from all over the United States, which helps keep the industry strong and a steady flow of opportunities for post-production talent, including animators. Not only is the film and video industry strong here, animators can also find work in healthy industries such as:
- Advertising and Marketing
- Computer Systems and Design
- Education
Animators interested in teaching may find work at many of the states 125 colleges and universities in the art, communications, or computer science departments.
Employment and Salary Trends for Massachusetts Animators
As of 2009, 870 animators worked in production studios, colleges, advertising, and computer design firms throughout the state of Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts earned a mean salary of $58,640 per year, which is only $4,170 less than the national average, but more than at least 20 other 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 Massachusetts
Aspiring animators interested in working in the film and video industries may find employment at Massachusetts animation studios such as:
- Soup2Nuts, Watertown
- Global Mechanic, Boston
- Machinegraphics, Boston
- Gabriel Polonsky Studio (GPS), Boston
- Anzovin Studio, Inc., Amherst
Advertising animators may find employment opportunities at:
- Arnold Worldwide, Boston
- Mullen, Boston
- Hill Holiday, Boston
- Strand Marketing, Newburyport
- MMB, Boston
There are more than 900 computer systems and design firms in Massachusetts, so there are ample opportunities for animators with a computer science background. Although these and other animator positions are available in many cities throughout the state, a large number of opportunities can be found in principle cities such as Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Cambridge, and Lowell.
Massachusetts Animation Training Programs
Many Massachusetts art & design schools offer animation programs that have been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). A number of Massachusetts colleges and universities also offer computer science, advertising, and art with a concentration in animation degrees, one-year animation programs that lead to an animation certificate, enrichment courses, or other non-degree programs.
Noted Massachusetts animation programs are available at:
- The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, Boston
- Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth
- Smith College, Northampton
- Endicott College, Beverly
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,
