Every occupation the official NCES/BLS crosswalk connects to animation programs, with BLS pay, the education each job usually needs, what the work involves, and where to go next.
Animation · CIP 50.0102 · 5 careers · Check one exact major, e.g. 50.0102 Digital Arts, in the major to career finder
The official NCES/BLS crosswalk maps animation programs to 5 occupations that such programs typically prepare people for, including Creative Director, Animator and Graphic Designer. BLS median pay across them runs from $44,660 (Photographer) to $114,850 (Creative Director) in May 2025. The crosswalk describes preparation, not what graduates actually go on to do.
Data Program → related occupations: these are jobs animation programs typically prepare people for (NCES/BLS crosswalk). Not a guaranteed outcome, and not a record of what graduates do.
Data Filter by the education the job usually needs or its preparation level; sort by pay or by number employed.
| Occupation | Most common education | Job Zone | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 | 197,830 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryPostsecondary teaching | $78,620 | 93,560 | Master's Degree | 5 |
| Creative Director | $114,850 | 53,070 | Bachelor's Degree | 4 |
| Photographer | $44,660 | 51,760 | Some College Courses | 3 |
| Animator | $102,030 | 19,970 | n/a | 4 |
No occupations match these filters.
Data BLS national median annual wage, May 2025. These are pay levels of the occupations, not earnings of graduates.
Data The largest related occupations by employment (postsecondary teaching shown in the explorer).
Work with creative directors to develop design solutions.
Present final layouts to clients for approval.
Active Listening · Speaking · Judgment and Decision Making
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 50.0102Design complex graphics and animation, using independent judgment, creativity, and computer equipment.
Create basic designs, drawings, and illustrations for product labels, cartons, direct mail, or television.
Active Listening · Reading Comprehension · Critical Thinking
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 50.0102Key information into computer equipment to create layouts for client or supervisor.
Review final layouts and suggest improvements, as needed.
Active Listening · Speaking · Writing
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 50.0102Adjust apertures, shutter speeds, and camera focus according to a combination of factors, such as lighting, field depth, subject motion, film type, and film speed.
Create artificial light, using flashes and reflectors.
Active Listening · Speaking · Service Orientation
Career guide Salary How to become
Mapped from CIP 50.0102Data Related occupations grouped by government career field, with their pay range.
Data Other programs whose crosswalk occupations overlap with these.
The NCES/BLS crosswalk relates instructional programs (CIP 2020) to occupations (SOC 2018) when programs in the CIP category typically prepare individuals directly for jobs in the occupation. This page uses the CIP program series below and shows every non-residual occupation mapped to them that has BLS wages and O*NET data; each occupation lists the CIP codes that map to it.
Searches this page answers include “what can i do with an animation degree”, “what can you do with an animation degree”, “what jobs can i get with an animation degree” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
