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Animator Jobs in Seattle
Find animator jobs in Seattle from the world's top game studios. Bungie, Microsoft Xbox, Sucker Punch, Amazon Games, and more Seattle studios hire animators across all levels. Updated daily.
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Animator Roles in Seattle
We curate animator positions from game studios across Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area.
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Junior Animator
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Animator
🌟
Senior Animator
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Lead Animator
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Character Animator
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Cinematic Animator
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Gameplay Animator
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Mocap Animator
Seattle Game Studios Hiring Animators
Seattle's AAA studios develop some of the most animation-intensive games in the industry:
Bungie
Microsoft Xbox Game Studios
Sucker Punch Productions
Amazon Games
343 Industries
The Coalition
Valve
Double Fine
Zenimax Online Studios
+ More Studios
Animator Salary Ranges in Seattle (2026)
What animator roles pay at Seattle game studios.
Junior Animator
$50K - $70K
Animator
$70K - $98K
Senior Animator
$95K - $128K
Lead Animator
$120K - $155K
*Salaries listed in USD. Washington state has no income tax, which meaningfully increases take-home pay compared to equivalent California salaries. Large studio benefits at Microsoft and Amazon add stock, comprehensive health coverage, and retirement contributions beyond base salary.
What Seattle Studios Look For in Animators
Seattle animation teams work on some of the world's most recognizable game franchises. Here is what gets you hired.
🎨 Core Animation Skills
- Strong 12 principles of animation foundation
- Gameplay animation state machine architecture
- Character locomotion and combat feel
- Cinematic animation and facial performance
- Motion capture cleanup and retargeting
🎮 Tools and Engine Knowledge
- Maya as primary animation software
- Unreal Engine Animation Blueprint and state machines
- MotionBuilder for mocap processing
- Houdini or Blender for procedural animation support
- Perforce for version control in large team pipelines
🌟 What Seattle Studios Specifically Want
- Shipped AAA gameplay animation credits
- Demonstrated feel for responsive, weighty character movement
- Experience working with technical animators and riggers
- Bungie and Sucker Punch prize "player feel" instincts above all
- Strong cross-discipline communication for mocap pipelines
💡 How to Stand Out in Seattle's Market
- Demo reel showcasing gameplay and cinematic range
- Include breakdown reels showing raw and final states
- Demonstrate understanding of state machine logic
- Show variety: combat, locomotion, facial, creature
- Apply within 24 hours of posting
Animator Jobs in Seattle FAQ
Are there animator jobs in Seattle?
Yes. Seattle has a strong and consistent market for game animator jobs. Bungie, Microsoft Xbox Game Studios, Sucker Punch Productions, and Amazon Games all employ animators across character, gameplay, cinematic, and creature disciplines. The scale and ambition of AAA titles developed in Seattle creates reliable animation demand at every experience level.
Which studios in Seattle hire animators?
Major game studios hiring animators in Seattle include Bungie, Microsoft Xbox Game Studios, Sucker Punch Productions, Amazon Games, 343 Industries, The Coalition, Valve, and Double Fine. The genre diversity across Seattle's studios (shooters, action-adventure, strategy, RPG) means animation jobs span everything from responsive first-person weapon animation to sweeping cinematic performance work.
What is the salary for an animator in Seattle?
In Seattle: Junior Animators earn $50K-$70K, mid-level $70K-$98K, Senior Animators $95K-$128K, and Lead Animators $120K-$155K. Washington state has no income tax, which adds meaningfully to take-home pay versus California animation roles at comparable salary levels. Benefits at large studios include stock programs and comprehensive health packages.
What skills do Seattle game studios want in an animator?
Seattle studios prioritize animators with strong gameplay animation foundations, including state machine design, blend tree architecture, and an instinctive feel for responsive character movement. Bungie and Sucker Punch in particular value animators who understand how animation feels in the player's hands rather than just how it reads on screen. Shipped AAA gameplay animation credits are strongly preferred.
How do I find animator jobs in Seattle?
ArtBlast curates animator jobs daily and flags Seattle and Pacific Northwest roles specifically. Applying within the first 24-48 hours gives you the best chance of being reviewed. Paid subscribers get Discord live alerts the moment new Seattle animator roles post, before most applicants see them.