[daz199]

I was jus wondering what salary you 3d guys are getting....im 16 and thinking about going into the field

I'd like to know how much you could expect to make as someone in the Game field, Movie field, and TV field

thanks

[WICKED]

Hey man I'm not entirely sure, but I think when I was looking at the college description it said starting salery around $30,000 a year. Like I said im not sure but i think its around that.

[StrangeFate]

Doubt you'll get any answers on that.
The job takes insane hours and flexibility so go for it if you love it or let it be.

You won't starve from lack of money, if it helps.

[Jezebel]

In my opinion I wouldn't go into the field for the money, only do it if you love it. Of course you don't want to be starving on the streets, but that won't happen as long as you work hard.

I think being an artist is similar to being a chef. Sure you might like baking cookies in your spare time, but are you really prepared to do it everyday for hours on end? If you're not really sure, then it's prolly not for you... especially if you're wanting lotsa money as well.

*drops two cents in the Sijun piggy bank*

[Jason Manley]

I will say that I know of people in the games industry that make anywhere from 30-85 grand a year as artists...Im sure there are exceptions plus and minus those numbers.

I will also say that if you have full four year education then I would shoot for at least 40-50 to start(if you actually worked in college if ya know what I mean)

I have a buddy who is 22 and is modeller in the film industry...he makes anwhere from 80-120 grand a year depending on what company he is working for and how long the project is.

some of those number sound like a lot..but in california where I am 50 grand gets you a one bdrm apartment, a new car, the ability to go out to eat and have some new clothes..thats bout it...gas, utilities also all that stuff....

I couldnt buy a house in the city I live in unless I made a boatload of dough...but then again I live about 10 steps from the ocean.

best of luck...the money comes if you work hard.

you can be successful in this industry if you educate yourself and keep your foundation skills strong.

jason

[JoeKool]

i agree with Jason Manley. I was making 60k, and live about 1 block from the beach in a great apt..but i could not even think of affording a house in a decent area. that said, i can travel easily, drive a nice car..etc.
freelancing is one option...on say, website design or small projects for post-production..etc i was making up to 75/hour on that..which is amazing money.
if you love the field(s), the money isnt bad at all. but it totally varies on the company, the project..etc

[daz199]

thanks a lot

[shinji69]

Hmm...what about freelancer artist? I think it's very hard to get a decent 'flow' of assignments because of the competitions. I guess it will get worse because of the economic recession. -_-;

But more important thing is: How do I secure an agent?! OK, let's say I am graduating from a 4-year college and attended some studios like AIA and Villpu studios, and have a stack of paintings and illustrations. (plus a ton of life drawings, landscape and life studies on oil and goache, a couple of sculpie sculptures, dozens or even a hundred concept sketch of robots, spaceships, vehicles, costumes and stuff) Then...

Where do I send my portfolios? It's even impossible to find any job opening. Cenrtanly studios won't put their job opening on newspaper classified sections...
-_-;

before asking about the money people make, the more important question is how to get in, or break in.

[Wild]

ok. well then, how do you get in, or break in?

[Highfive]

I know a Australian comic artist who only just managed to really break into the industry just recently after three years of long hard poorly paid work. It was difficult for him because he wasn't going to leave his hometown until he definitely had some work. Often he'd draw as many as six good pages of full-colour artwork for one story just so the writer could see if it was what he wanted.
That's comics, though, don't know about freelance art.

[Monkey Majick]

I know this might not have very much to do with salaries but...

My 2D Cell Animation teacher, who lived over here in Perth Western Australia, concentrated on his portfolio/showreel for one year whilst doing little jobs here and there to get by until he had a wad of excellent 3D and 2D work. Teaching earnt him $45/per hour for maybe 8 hours a week.(that's 23 US Dollars per hour. $184US per week.)

He had earnt just enough money to fly accross to New York. He went to many job interviews showing his work but he found nothing.

He was sitting in a resturant where he recognised a Lucasart Studio exec sitting at an opposite table. He grabbed his portfolio, introduced himself and landed a small job.(I can't remember what it was)

Apparently, he worked a little on Jedi Knight then landed a job at Tippet Studios, a movie special effects company, where he is today.

So it really comes down to who you know, your focus and determination to achieve.

I just wish it was me.

[Spiritwolf]

Daz, gamasutra had a good article on salaries in the game industry, if that is the direction you are thinking of going. Here is the link:
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010831/survey_01.htm

Hope this helps.

-Spiritwolf