Salary Trends in Animation and Related Fields

From film and television production to radio broadcasting, media artists work in some of today’s most exciting fields. In the State of Texas, aspiring media artists will find no shortage of studios, creative agencies, and more that are always on the prowl for fresh talent. Besides the usual suspects such as FOX, NBC, and CBS, just a few options include Reel FX Studios (Dallas), The MAD House (Austin), and DNA Productions (Dallas).

Texas has one of the highest populations of working artists in the country. At last count, The Lone Star State was home to more than 100,000 salaried artists, and thousands of independent artists. They work in galleries, museums, production studios, creative agencies, technology companies, theaters, schools, and more. Besides a variety of employment opportunities, artists (both aspiring and veteran) choose Texas for its large and leisurely art and culture scene.

Who says you need a computer to draw? Sure, hundreds of software programs are available that do most of the work for you, but many careers for creative sketchers still require only a few simple tools—a pencil and paper. Chalk, pens, paint, and other materials are used as well, but many careers still rely heavily on manual skills. Just a few of the top careers for artists specializing in drawing include publishing (cover art, children’s books), advertising (storyboards, mock-ups, presentations), newspapers (comic art, caricatures, political cartoons), law (sketch artist, courtroom artist), fashion design (sketch artist), architecture, and set design.

Texas has a thriving art and design scene that features some of the regions top art venues and one of the largest populations of salaried artists and designers in the country. Unique art scenes can be found all over the state from Amarillo to Houston, but many of the state’s most visited venues can be found in mega-cities such as San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and Austin. Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts and The Menil Collection are popular, while organizations such as the Houston Civic Arts Association, Houston Arts Society (HAS), and The Society for the Performing Arts are the glue that helps hold it all together.