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Motion graphics are in higher demand than ever and, if you’re a motion graphics designer, then that’s some great news for you!
Because video content is absolutely dominating social media feeds, websites, and digital ads right now — which means that having the ability to make visuals move isn’t just a cool thing to have every now and then, it’s a must-have for any brand in any industry looking to stand out in a sea of competition and grab the attention of the audience before someone else does it first.
But how much are those brands willing to pay those talented creatives behind the motion?
If you aren’t sure, it’s time to find out!
Whether you’re just starting out in the world of motion graphics design or you’re a seasoned pro looking to level, today’s blog is your guide into just how much motion graphics designers are making in 2025!
Let’s dive in!
What Affects Motion Graphics Designers Salaries the Most?
Just like not all motion graphics projects are the same, not all motion graphics salaries are quite the same either.
What you earn typically depends on a lot more than just how good you are at your job. Everything from how you work to where you work (and who you work for) has a big impact on your paycheck.
Here are some of the biggest factors that influence what motion graphics designers are bringing home in 2025:
- Employment Type — Full-time, freelance, or contract roles all come with different pay scales, benefits, and flexibility.
- Experience Level — Naturally, the more years of experience you have under your belt, the higher your rates. Keep in mind that specialized skills like 3D animation, character rigging, UI/UX motion, or data visualization can also boost your earning power.
- Industry — Some industries, like tech and entertainment, just pay more for motion design than others like education or nonprofit.
- Location — Designers in high-cost cities (more on this in a bit) or working with big-budget clients tend to earn more.
- Portfolio Strength — A stunning portfolio with a big wow factor that shows off your range and creativity can justify higher rates and net you better projects.
- Technical Skill Set — Knowing After Effects is great, but adding tools like Blender, Cinema 4D, or AI-assisted platforms can really boost your value.
- Client Type — Working directly with brands often pays more than agency subcontracts or one-off gigs, depending on scope and relationship.
Freelancing vs. Full-Time
If you’re just getting started, you’re probably wondering whether you’d be better off looking for a full-time gig.
Here’s a quick break down:
Freelancing
Pros
- Higher earning potential per project or hour
- Flexible schedule and creative freedom
- Opportunity to work with a wide variety of clients
Cons
- Unpredictable income
- No health benefits or job security
- You have to handle all the admin stuff: contracts, invoices, taxes
Full-Time
Pros
- Steady paycheck and benefits
- More stability and clear career growth
- Less responsibility for client management or business tasks
Cons
- Lower hourly rate compared to freelance
- Less creative variety
- Fixed schedule and limited flexibility
As you can see, each choice comes with its own perks (and its own headaches). The key is to figure out which one works best for you personally; your lifestyle and goals.
Motion Graphics Designer Salaries by Experience Level
If you do decide on the full-time route, then you’ll typically see salary ranges go up with experience, location, certain specializations, and leadership roles.
Here’s how the numbers break down in 2025.
*Note: The following salary ranges reflect typical full-time roles in the US. Freelance rates vary more widely depending on project scope, experience, and client budget — but we’ll touch on those throughout, too.
Entry Level Motion Designer Salary (0–2 Years)
Full-Time Salary Range: $50,000–$65,000
Freelancer Range: Anywhere from $30–$50/hour.
Baby motion designers new to the field usually find themselves working under more senior creatives like senior motion designers, art directors, or creative leads.
This is the time to learn as much as you can! Expect lots of feedback, lots of revisions, and plenty of opportunities to learn and grow (as long as you stay open to it!).
You’ll likely be assigned smaller tasks within larger projects, like animating social media posts, creating logo stingers, building lower thirds, or creating explainer videos. It’s also common for newer designers to help with things like pitch decks and internal comms where motion design can give teams a creative edge.
The tools you’ll be using could be Adobe After Effects, with maybe some supporting work done in Illustrator, Photoshop, or Premiere Pro if you’re editing short videos or combining assets.
Pro Tip: Don’t worry if you don’t know everything yet! Just be eager to learn, easy to direct, and have a good attitude— this alone can help you stand out!
Mid-Level Motion Designer Salary (3–5 Years)
Full-Time Salary Range: $70,000–$90,000
Freelancer Range: Typical rates range from $50–$80/hour.
Mid-level motion designers have some experience behind them; they’ve moved beyond the basics and are usually working more independently at this point in their careers.
While you’ll still be working under creative directors, art directors, and other more senior team members, you might start mentoring new designers now or even leading parts of a project.
You’ll be trusted with full ownership of your desk work, from concept to final delivery, and the projects you’ll be working with typically include branded content, marketing campaigns, UI animations, explainer videos, and product demos that require a higher level of polish and strategy.
Your toolkit at this stage will still include After Effects, but you’re also probably working more with Premiere Pro, Illustrator, and maybe even branching into tools like Blender, Cinema 4D, or other motion plugins that help elevate your work.
Pro Tip: Right about now, you’ll start wanting to find your niche. Whether it’s 3D animation, kinetic typography, or seamless UI transitions, the more specialized your skill set, the more you can charge—and the more likely you are to land interesting and high-paying projects.
Senior Level Motion Designer Salary (6+ Years)
Full-Time Salary Range: $90,000–$120,000
Freelancer Range: Typical rates range from $80–$120/hour.
A senior-level motion designer is an expert that doesn’t just execute on great animation, they usually have a say in the creative vision that’s behind it.
At this level, you can expect to lead projects, guide teams, mentor junior designers, and often work directly with clients to develop concepts, strategy, and creative direction.
You’re likely reporting to a creative director or other department lead, but you might also be taking the lead on motion-heavy campaigns and taking more creative ownership and responsibility.
A senior-level project might include full-scale product launches, campaign videos, branded storytelling, and animation systems over multiple platforms and mediums. You might also be creating templates and having a say in how motion shows up for a brand’s visual identity.
Of course, you’re still using After Effects, but by now you’re probably a pro at Cinema 4D, Blender, Figma for motion in UI, and other high-end plugins or AI-assisted tools that premium motion graphics work requires.
Pro Tip: At this stage, your technical skill is expected, but your ability to lead, direct, and clearly communicate creative ideas is what will set you apart! The more value you bring to strategy and team leadership, the more doors (and higher salaries) open up for you.
Lead Motion Designer / Creative Director Level (8–10+ Years)
Full-Time Salary Range: $120,000–$150,000+
Freelancer Range: Anywhere $500–$1,000+, especially for consulting, brand system development, or high-level creative direction.
At this stage in your career, you’re not just animating, you’re also shaping how motion design fits into the bigger picture for a brand.
Lead motion designers and motion expert creative directors are responsible for overseeing a brand’s creative strategy, guiding animation teams, and making sure that every asset is lined up with the brand’s voice, goals, and identity.
You might be leading an entire department or cross-functional teams, and might be reporting to executive leadership and regularly pitching concepts to clients. You’re the go-to for everything from campaign work to motion guidelines.
Projects for folks at this stage in their career can include a full brand launch, multi-platform campaigns, motion branding systems, and creative director for teams of designers and animators. You might also consult on things like timelines and team structure, especially if you’re working in a bigger organization or agency.
You’re a pro at After Effects, Cinema 4D, Blender, and a whole variety of different plugins, but you’re also now focused on your leadership skills, creative strategy, and cross-team communication just as much as the creative stuff!
Pro Tip: At this level, your soft skills matter just as much as your technical ones. The ability to direct a vision, communicate clearly, and lead a team through is what will set you apart —and justifies a higher-paying salary!
How Location and Industry Impact Motion Graphic Designer Salaries
No matter how many years of experience you have, however, where you live and the industry you work in can still have a huge impact on how much you take home as a motion graphics designer.
Location: Big Cities Pay Big
Remote jobs are on the rise and may compete with some of the highest salaries out there but, on average, major cities like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Seattle still tend to offer the highest salaries for full-time roles.
That’s because those cities are full of giant enterprises, large agencies, media companies, and well-funded startups that are looking for design-heavy content.
That’s not to say that plenty of motion designers aren’t earning a nice living in a lower-cost city or working internationally. Thanks to remote work and freelance platforms, that’s totally possible.
If you’re freelancing, your rates don’t have to depend on your ZIP code—but clients in major cities are more likely to pay premium prices, especially if your portfolio matches the standard they’re used to.
Industry: Not All Clients Pay Equally
It’s just a fact.
Other industries see motion graphics as a nice-to-have to get them more attention in email campaigns and social media feeds.
But some industries rely heavily on motion design and they’re willing to pay good money for high-quality work.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Tech & SaaS — Great pay, especially for UI animation, explainer videos, and product demos
- Entertainment & Media — Big creative budgets, but often fast-paced and competitive
- Advertising & Marketing — High demand for branded content and campaign assets
- Finance & Corporate — Less flashy, but usually stable and well-funded
- Nonprofits & Education — Lower budgets, but can offer steady work and creative flexibility
Understanding your client’s industry can help you price your work appropriately and to decide where to focus your efforts if you’re trying to grow your income along with your portfolio.
Tips to Earn More as a Motion Graphics Designer
So, how can you start growing your income from where you are now?
No matter where you are in your career, there are always ways to grow, flex your motion design muscles, and start earning more.
Whether you’re working in-house, freelancing full-time, or somewhere in between, very often it comes down to strategy over skill.
Here are a few smart ways to increase your earning potential in 2025:
- Find your niche — Specializing in something like 3D animation, UI motion, or kinetic typography can make you the go-to person for high-paying projects.
- Level up your tools — Learning Blender, Cinema 4D, or even AI-assisted motion design platforms can set you apart and justify higher rates.
- Keep your portfolio current — Regularly update your reel with your best work. Clients and employers want to see what you can do now, not just two years ago.
- Practice better pricing — Charge by project value, not just time. Clients pay more for results than they do for hours.
- Network intentionally — Strong connections with agencies, creative directors, and past clients can lead to repeat work and higher-budget gigs.
- Offer motion as a system — Brands love consistent visual language. If you can build a reusable motion system for a brand, you’re offering long-term value, not just one-off deliverables.
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Ready to Start Earning More Doing What You Love?
Motion graphic design is evolving fast and the creatives who evolve right along with it will always be in demand (and well paid too!).
So, if you’re looking for a motion graphics gig that offers competitive pay, along with a variety of fresh projects, and a path to real growth, you might already be in the right place!
Designity is an innovative Creative as a Service platform that connects talented creatives with top brands across all kinds of different industries. As part of the Designity community, you’ll get to collaborate with other top-tier professionals, learn from experienced Creative Directors, and spend more time doing what you love to do — while leaving the admin stuff like invoicing and client-chasing to someone else.
You’ll also enjoy other great perks, like:
- A flexible schedule that works around your life
- Remote work from anywhere in the U.S.
- Pay that matches your experience and talent
- A steady stream of exciting, creative projects
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Ready to take your motion design career to the next level? This is your sign! Fill out our one-of-a-kind application and start working with a team that values your creativity and will help you reach your full potential!
