Creative pay 2026
Motion designer salary in Washington (2026)
Motion designers and animators in Washington earn a median $133,480 a year ($64.17 an hour), according to BLS wage data for May 2025. That is 31% more than the US median of $102,030, and the highest of 31 states with published figures. It is 2.1 times the median for all jobs in Washington.
- $133,480median a year in Washington
- $64.17median an hour
- +31%vs the US median ($102,030)
- 1,130employee jobs (BLS estimate)
What is the salary range for a motion designer in Washington?
Half of motion designers and animators in Washington earn between $100,550 and $174,990. The gap between the top and bottom 10% (3.2 times) is about the national spread.
| 10th percentile | $65,270 | $58,600 | $31.38 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $100,550 | $75,490 | $48.34 |
| Median | $133,480 | $102,030 | $64.17 |
| 75th | $174,990 | $139,130 | $84.13 |
| 90th percentile | $209,400 | $177,110 | $100.67 |
The mean (average) is $141,450, above the median, pulled up by the highest earners.
How does Washington compare with other states?
Washington pays motion designers and animators more than any other state: its median is 2% above second-placed California.
| California | $130,540 | −2% | 7,410 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | $97,350 | −27% | 370 |
How many motion designers and animators work in Washington?
BLS estimates 1,130 employee jobs, 0.32 in every 1,000 jobs in the state. The job is concentrated here: Washington's share of employment in it is 2.48 times the national share (BLS's location quotient).
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 Washington?
Motion designer is the best-paid of these creative jobs in Washington.
| UX/UI designer | $130,480 | 11,580 |
|---|---|---|
| Copywriter | $85,700 | 770 |
| Graphic designer | $72,710 | 3,960 |
| Video editor | $66,870 | 450 |
| Videographer | $60,250 | 440 |
| Photographer | $48,050 | 960 |
What do freelance motion designers and animators charge?
Upwork, motion graphics designers list $18 to $35 an hour, worldwide. Washington's employee median of $64.17 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 Washington?
The median is $133,480 a year and the mean is $141,450, from BLS data for May 2025 covering about 1,130 employee jobs.
How much does a motion designer make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly wage is $64.17. The bottom 10% earn under $31.38 and the top 10% over $100.67.
What does a starting motion designer earn in Washington?
BLS does not publish pay by experience. The lowest-paid quarter of motion designers and animators in Washington earn under $100,550 a year and the lowest-paid tenth under $65,270, 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 = 1,130 jobs in the Washington estimate. Last updated 2 October 2026.
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Motion designer pay in other states
- California $130,540
- Nevada $97,350
- New York $96,770
- North Carolina $88,350
- Utah $88,210
- Florida $85,870
- Virginia $81,510
- Georgia $81,390
- Illinois $81,180
- Indiana $75,250
- Pennsylvania $71,760