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

Animation Careers in Utah

Overview - The Utah Film Commission has been around since 1974. The state has hosted award-winning film productions such as 127 Hours, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, and Thelma & Louise. Thanks to beautiful scenery and dozens of blockbusters under its belt, Utah attracts production studios of all kinds, including animation studios. Just a few Utah animation studios include:

• Studio 4D1, Bingham Canyon
• Lumenas Animation Studios, Salt Lake City
• M54 Entertainment, Provo

In the state of Utah, animators are likely to be found working at production studios, digital & visual effects studios, in education, and in the technology sector. Animators interested in working in education can choose between 40 colleges in the state, and 1,040 elementary and secondary schools. The Art Institute of Salt Lake City is one of the top schools for animators interested in teaching.

Employment and Salary Trends for Utah Animators

As of 2009, approximately 160 animators worked in production studios, schools, and technology firms throughout the state of Utah. 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 Utah earned a mean salary of $46,040 per year.

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 Utah

Film and video animators may find employment at the following Utah animation and production studios:

• Too Many Legs Animation, Salt Lake City
• Amenat Studios, Bountiful
• Creative Media Group, Orem
• Golden Street Animation, Provo, Utah
• Studio 4D1, Bingham Canyon
• Lumenas Animation Studios, Salt Lake City
• M54 Entertainment, Provo

Animators with a computer technology background may find work at one of more than 1,400 computer technology firms in the state. Just a few animator-friendly technology firms (including gaming) include:

• Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., Sandy
• Electronic Arts, Salt Lake City
• Software Technology Group, Salt Lake City

Although animation positions in the industries mentioned above can be found in most cities throughout the state of Utah, many are located in principal cities such as Salt Lake City, West Valley City, Provo, West Jordan, and Orem.

Utah Animation Training Programs

Utah offers access animation programs at top universities such as Brigham Young University, Provo and art schools such as the Art Institute of Salt Lake City. Animation degree and certificate programs are offered at other schools such as:

• Utah State University, Logan
• Stevens-Henager College of Business, Provo
• Salt Lake City Community College
• ITT Technical Institute, Murray

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