In April 1996, Local
839 surveyed its members to ask them what they were being paid. The overall
results give a good idea of what the "going" rates were as of
that time, as opposed to the minimum
scales in the union contract. However, due to the expanding sellers'
market for talent in animation, "going rates" have risen steadily
ever since. We will probably repeat this survey at least once a year, and
will post results to this site.
All salaries shown are weekly.
Classifications not listed had no replies, or all replies were working at
scale. "%age reporting" is the percentage of members employed
who responded to the survey.
The "median average" is the middle rate when the rates are listed
from highest to lowest. This should be viewed in the context of the percentage
of members responding, and the minimums and maximums reported.
Rates shown with an asterisk are non-union.
% reporting: 65.9%
Entry scale: n/a
Journey scale: $1,273.05
Minimum reported:
$1,500.00*
Median average:
$4,000.00
Maximum reported:
$6,000.00
Directors
% reporting: 40.7%
Entry scale: n/a
Journey scale: $1,273.05
Minimum reported:
$1,400.00*
Median average:
$2,000.00
Maximum reported:
$14,000.00
Assistant
Directors
% reporting: 15.9%
Entry scale: $833.16
Journey scale: $1,037.92
Minimum reported:
$1,150.00
Median average:
$1,725.00
Maximum reported:
$2,300.00
Production
Board
% reporting: 45.3%
Entry scale: $1,197.20
Journey scale: $1,273.05
Minimum reported:
$1,065.00*
Median average:
$1,500.00
Maximum reported:
$3,500.00
Story
Sketch
% reporting: 57.1%
Entry scale: $800.12
Journey scale: $990.64
Minimum reported:
$580.00
Median average:
$1,710.00
Maximum reported:
$2,200.00
Apprentice
Storyboard
% reporting: 28.6%
Entry scale: $797.96
Journey scale: n/a
Minimum reported:
$800.00
Median average:
$1,000.00
Maximum reported:
$1,200.00
Art
Directors
% reporting: 33.1%
Entry scale: n/a
Journey scale: $1,273.05
Minimum reported:
$2,500.00
Median average:
$2,950.00
Maximum reported:
$3,925.00
Visual
Development
% reporting: 85.0%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$1,065.00
Median average:
$1,500.00
Maximum reported:
$3,500.00
Model
Designers
% reporting: 19.1%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$1,000.00*
Median average:
$1,382.50
Maximum reported:
$1,700.00
Color
Key/Color Stylists
% reporting: 53.5%
Entry scale: $781.96
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$775.00
Median average:
$1,200.00
Maximum reported:
$1,600.00
Assistant
Models
% reporting: 28.6%
Entry scale: $875.60
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$1,079.00
Median average:
$1,093.29
Maximum reported:
$1,107.57
Layout
% reporting: 15.7%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$941.44*
Median average:
$1,900.00
Maximum reported:
$4,000.00
Key
Assistant Layout
% reporting: 66.7%
Entry scale: n/a
Journey scale: $1,059.12
Minimum reported:
$1,200.00
Median average:
$1,450.00
Maximum reported:
$1,600.00
Assistant
Layout
% reporting: 31.3%
Entry scale: $875.60
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$850.00*
Median average:
$995.00
Maximum reported:
$1,050.00
Background
% reporting: 38.9%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$1,107.20
Median average:
$1,600.00
Maximum reported:
$2,700.00
Assistant
Background
% reporting: 73.0%
Entry scale: $875.60
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$836.00
Median average:
$898.32
Maximum reported:
$1,040.00
Animators
% reporting: 47.5%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$750.00*
Median average:
$1,750.00
Maximum reported:
$6,700.00
Key
Assistant Animators
% reporting: 50.5%
Entry scale: n/a
Journey scale: $1,059.12
Minimum reported:
$1,028.00
Median average:
$1,370.00
Maximum reported:
$2,000.00
Assistant
Animators
% reporting: 33.5%
Entry scale: $875.60
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$553.00
Median average:
$1,000.00
Maximum reported:
$1,650.00
Breakdown
% reporting: 27.6%
Entry scale: $798.84
Journey scale: $822.08
Minimum reported:
$798.00
Median average:
$850.00
Maximum reported:
$1,025.00
Inbetweeners
% reporting: 26.4%
Entry scale: $737.84
Journey scale: $789.64
Minimum reported:
$682.08
Median average:
$789.00
Maximum reported:
$990.00
Sheet
Timers
% reporting: 12.9%
Entry scale: $833.16
Journey scale: $1,037.92
Minimum reported:
$1,400.00
Median average:
$1,537.00
Maximum reported:
$1,800.00
Scene
Planners
% reporting: 26.0%
Entry scale: $938.96
Journey scale: $979.60
Minimum reported:
$1,000.00
Median average:
$1,400.00
Maximum reported:
$1,500.00
Animation
Checkers
% reporting: 42.1%
Entry scale: $781.96
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$805.56
Median average:
$1,000.00
Maximum reported:
$1,640.00
CGI
Animators/Modellers
% reporting: 75.4%
Entry scale: $1,041.04
Journey scale: $1,107.00
Minimum reported:
$900.00*
Median average:
$1,400.00
Maximum reported:
$1,950.00
CGI
Compositors
% reporting: 66.7%
Entry scale: $875.60
Journey scale: $941.44
Minimum reported:
$775.00
Median average:
$1,512.50
Maximum reported:
$2,250.00
CGI
Opaquers
% reporting: 17.2%
Entry scale: $692.44
Journey scale: $775.28
Minimum reported:
$750.00
Median average:
$780.00
Maximum reported:
$1,520.00
CGI
Scanners
% reporting: 52.1%
Entry scale: $692.44
Journey scale: $775.28
Minimum reported:
$750.00
Median average:
$850.00
Maximum reported:
$1,087.20
Trainees
% reporting: 13.4%
Entry scale: $702.56
Journey scale: $773.60
Minimum reported:
$535.87
Median average:
$738.00
Maximum reported:
$900.00
Final
Checkers
% reporting: 11.1%
Entry scale: $757.64
Journey scale: $809.24
Minimum reported:
$1,000.00
Median average:
$1,000.00
Maximum reported:
$1,000.00
Mark-Up
% reporting: 27.0%
Entry scale: $757.64
Journey scale: $809.24
Minimum reported:
$809.24
Median average:
$950.00
Maximum reported:
$1,009.00
Special
Effects [Painters]
% reporting: 100.0%
Entry scale: $794.00
Journey scale: $809.24
Minimum reported:
$794.00
Median average:
$820.00
Maximum reported:
$1,190.00
Painters
% reporting: 13.3%
Entry scale: $692.44
Journey scale: $775.28
Minimum reported:
$775.28
Median average:
$815.14
Maximum reported:
$855.00
Inkers
% reporting: 43.3%
Entry scale: $692.44
Journey scale: $781.24
Minimum reported:
$781.24
Median average:
$809.24
Maximum reported:
$833.16
ALL EMPLOYED
% reporting: 34.1%
Back to the M. P. S. C. Local 839 Main Page
M. P. S. C. Local
839 IATSE, 4729 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91602-1864
phone (818) 766-7151 * fax (818) 506-4805 * email mpsc839@primenet.com
All page contents © 1996 by M. P. S. C. Local 839 IATSE