Lead Animator Salary in Los Angeles, California

How much does a Lead Animator make in Los Angeles, CA?

As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Lead Animator in Los Angeles, CA is $146,626. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $139,882 to $153,312, with most professionals earning between $133,741 and $159,399.

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Salary range for a Lead Animator

$139,882 to $153,312

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Lead Animator

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Job Openings for Lead Animator in Los Angeles, CA

What does a Lead Animator do?

Common responsibilities of a Lead Animator

Training, hiring, reviews, etc.

May 15, 2023

Create high quality layout, blocking, and camera movements for use in previs and postvis shots / sequences.

June 25, 2022

Provide direction, leadership, mentorship, feedback, and training to the Animation team.

October 25, 2022

Collaborate with engineering and design teams to define animation pipeline and associated workflows.

December 01, 2022

Balance scope of production.

February 22, 2023

Track progress of team assignment.

April 28, 2023

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Lead Animator Salary By Experience Levels in Los Angeles, CA

How much should you be earning in Lead Animator in Los Angeles, CA based on your current experience?

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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE

Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Lead Animator Salary By Level of Education in Los Angeles, CA

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LEVEL OF EDUCATION

Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Average Salary Range for Lead Animator in Los Angeles, CA

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

139882

153312

146626

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

152998

174441

162712

What is the average salary for Lead Animator in 2025?

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Lead Animator in Los Angeles, CA. The base salary for Lead Animator ranges from $139,882 to $153,312 with the average base salary of $146,626. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $152,998 to $174,441 with the average total cash compensation of $162,712.

View Average Salary for Lead Animator as table

	Average Salary	Average Salary Range
Base Salary	$146,626	$139,882 - $153,312
Bonus	$16,086	$13,117 - $21,129
Total Pay	$162,712	$152,998 - $174,441

* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.

* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.

Lead Animator Salary Near Los Angeles, CA

CITY, STATE	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA
CITY, STATE Burbank, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $139,882 - $153,312	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA 0%
CITY, STATE Glendale, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $139,882 - $153,312	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA 0%
CITY, STATE Pasadena, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $139,882 - $153,312	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA 0%
CITY, STATE Inglewood, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $139,882 - $153,312	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA 0%
CITY, STATE Downey, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $138,720 - $152,039	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA
CITY, STATE El Monte, CA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $139,730 - $153,146	COMPARE TO Los Angeles, CA

See salaries for Lead Animator in locations close to Los Angeles, CA. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.

About Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles (/lɔːs ˈændʒələs/ (listen);[a] Spanish: Los Ángeles), officially the City of Los Angeles and often known by its initials L.A., is the most populous city in California, the second most populous city in the United States, after New York City, and the third most populous city in North America. With an estimated population of four million, Los Angeles is the cultural, financial, and commercial center of Southern California. The city is known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, Hollywood and the entertainment industry, and its sprawling metropolis. Los Angeles is the larges...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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The Lead Animator job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Los Angeles, CA that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.

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