Digital Media and Design - Animation Specialty Option A.A.S.

Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $49,442

  Median

  $89,286

  Senior-Level

  $180,302

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $23.77

  Median

  $42.92

  Senior-Level

  $86.68

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  Some college

  2.52%

  Associate Degree

  8.99%

  Bachelor's Degree

  88.04%

  Master's Degree

  0.45%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

Design or create graphics to meet specific commercial or promotional needs, such as packaging, displays, or logos. May use a variety of mediums to achieve artistic or decorative effects.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $34,080

  Median

  $58,570

  Senior-Level

  $108,765

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $16.38

  Median

  $28.16

  Senior-Level

  $52.29

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  High school diploma or less

  15%

  Some college

  5%

  Associate Degree

  5%

  Bachelor's Degree

  65%

  Master's Degree

  10%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

Create special effects or animations using film, video, computers, or other electronic tools and media for use in products, such as computer games, movies, music videos, and commercials.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $26,008

  Median

  $46,231

  Senior-Level

  $118,867

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $12.50

  Median

  $22.22

  Senior-Level

  $57.14

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  High school diploma or less

  5.53%

  Some college

  39.68%

  Associate Degree

  1.7%

  Bachelor's Degree

  52.75%

  Master's Degree

  0.34%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

Manage web environment design, deployment, development and maintenance activities. Perform testing and quality assurance of web sites and web applications.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $48,922

  Median

  $102,350

  Senior-Level

  $174,630

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $23.52

  Median

  $49.20

  Senior-Level

  $83.95

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  High school diploma or less

  5%

  Certificate

  5%

  Some college

  15%

  Associate Degree

  15%

  Bachelor's Degree

  55%

  Master's Degree

  5%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $41,887

  Median

  $92,351

  Senior-Level

  $150,543

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $20.14

  Median

  $44.39

  Senior-Level

  $72.37

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  High school diploma or less

  12.5%

  Certificate

  16.67%

  Some college

  4.17%

  Associate Degree

  16.67%

  Bachelor's Degree

  50%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).

Develop and implement websites, web applications, application databases, and interactive web interfaces. Evaluate code to ensure that it is properly structured, meets industry standards, and is compatible with browsers and devices. Optimize website performance, scalability, and server-side code and processes. May develop website infrastructure and integrate websites with other computer applications.

• Salary Levels

  Take a look at the average annual or hourly earnings for this career in Lake and Cook Counties.

  Annual Wages Hourly Wages

  Entry-Level

  $57,722

  Median

  $103,349

  Senior-Level

  $138,944

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

  Entry-Level

  $27.75

  Median

  $49.68

  Senior-Level

  $66.79

  Lightcast earnings figures are based on OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) data from the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and include base rate, cost of living allowances, guaranteed pay, hazardous-duty pay, incentive pay (including commissions and bonuses), on-call pay, and tips.

• Top entry-level education

  Here’s a quick look at the most common degree levels people have in this career.

  High school diploma or less

  12.5%

  Certificate

  16.67%

  Some college

  4.17%

  Associate Degree

  16.67%

  Bachelor's Degree

  50%

  Lightcast educational attainment levels are the educational attainment percentage breakdown for a career (e.g. the percentage of people in the career who hold a bachelor degree vs. an associate degree).