Creative pay 2026
Motion designer salary in Virginia (2026)
Motion designers and animators in Virginia earn a median $81,510 a year ($39.19 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 20% below the US median of $102,030; Virginia is 13th of 31 states. The median for every job in Virginia is $55,690, so this pays 46% more than the typical job there.
- $81,510median a year in Virginia
- $39.19median an hour
- −20%vs the US median ($102,030)
- 380employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a motion designer in Virginia?
Half of motion designers and animators in Virginia earn between $66,920 and $110,180. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (2.9 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $47,140 | $58,600 | $22.66 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $66,920 | $75,490 | $32.18 |
| Median | $81,510 | $102,030 | $39.19 |
| 75th | $110,180 | $139,130 | $52.97 |
| 90th percentile | $138,210 | $177,110 | $66.45 |
The mean (average) is $89,750, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Virginia compare with other states?
Virginia sits 13th of 31, between Tennessee ($83,080) and Georgia ($81,390).
| Kentucky | $50,970 | −37% | 40 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $85,830 | +5% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $88,350 | +8% | 370 |
| Tennessee | $83,080 | +2% | 90 |
| West Virginia | $60,940 | −25% | 40 |
Which cities in Virginia pay motion designers and animators best?
Of the 2 metro areas in Virginia where BLS publishes a median for the job, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays most, at $92,760, 14% above the state median.
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 290 | $92,760 | $44.60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | 30 | $76,380 | $36.72 |
How many motion designers and animators work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 380 employee jobs, 0.09 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is rarer here than nationally: a location quotient of 0.73, where 1 is the US average. The employment estimate is rough: its relative standard error is 33%.
Employees only. BLS does not count the self-employed, who are a large share of several creative jobs.
What do other creative jobs pay in Virginia?
1 of the 6 other creative jobs below pay a higher median in Virginia.
| Copywriter | $85,000 | 1,530 |
|---|---|---|
| Video editor | $78,740 | n/a |
| UX/UI designer | $77,140 | 1,990 |
| Graphic designer | $72,310 | 4,740 |
| Videographer | $58,440 | 420 |
| Photographer | $46,550 | 1,580 |
What do freelance motion designers and animators charge?
Upwork, motion graphics designers list $18 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Virginia's employee median of $39.19 an hour is above that range, and a freelancer also has to cover unpaid hours, kit and tax. The rate calculator works out an hourly rate from the salary you want.
Questions
What is the average motion designer salary in Virginia?
The median is $81,510 a year and the mean is $89,750, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 380 employee jobs.
How much does a motion designer make an hour in Virginia?
The median hourly wage is $39.19. The bottom 10% earn under $22.66 and the top 10% over $66.45.
What does a starting motion designer earn in Virginia?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of motion designers and animators in Virginia earn under $66,920 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $47,140, which is the nearest guide to starting pay.
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Where do these numbers come from?
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (published 15 May 2026). Occupation 27-1014, Special Effects Artists and Animators. Employees only; annual figures are hourly times 2,080.
n = 380 jobs in the Virginia estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Motion designer pay in other states
- Washington $133,480
- California $130,540
- Nevada $97,350
- New York $96,770
- North Carolina $88,350
- Utah $88,210
- Florida $85,870
- Georgia $81,390
- Illinois $81,180
- Indiana $75,250
- Pennsylvania $71,760