Nonprofit She Drew That’s second annual Salary Rates Report points to tougher times in the UK animation industry—raises are down by 11% this year, and pay cuts are up by 9%. 

The report also shows that male animation workers in the UK are still making more money on average than women, especially in senior-level positions, where the average annual salary for men is US$77,623 (£61,211), compared to US$62,325 (£49,154) for women. This echoes the results from last year. 

She Drew That’s report is based on survey responses from 493 UK-based animation professionals, collected between September 2 and October 11 this year. 

Respondents cited less animation work and a downturn in the general economy as the main reasons for this year’s poorer showing. And a few shared that their studios are in financial crisis and experiencing cashflow problems. She Drew That also noted that lower pay potential at home is leading some respondents to consider looking for work outside of the UK.

She Drew That’s recommendations to employers for stemming the tide include adopting an open and consistent pay structure, being more open about available budgets, and taking measures to avoid overworking their staff. The org also says university animation courses could do more to give students practical experience and connect them with employers. 

Lastly, the report encouraged women to “invest in their own networking to build up contacts and gather information about rates of pay, project size, client types and studio styles of employment and conduct to put themselves in a position to gain more opportunities to secure better pay and a sense of fairness in their [careers].”  

Photo courtesy of Israel Andrade via Unsplash