Also called: Story Artist
Draws the comic-strip-like panels that plan every shot of a movie, show, commercial, or game cinematic.
Given a script page, they sketch the scene shot by shot, deciding camera angles and acting. Directors pitch these boards to studio executives. Story artists in animation help invent jokes and story beats.
Estimate; Animation Guild union rates are well above non-union pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in animation, illustration, or film.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Animation, Illustration, Film.
Growing about average (about 2% over 10 years). Follows animator projections.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI previz tools generate rough boards and shot ideas; staging, pacing and visual storytelling stay human calls.
Classes: Drawing, Film or video production, English creative writing.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-1014.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.