Motion Designer Jobs in California

Motion Designer jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in entertainment, streaming, advertising, and technology, with openings at every level from junior animator through senior creative director. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the primary hiring centers, where studios and platforms like Netflix, Disney, and Apple maintain large in-house creative teams. The most in-demand specialties are 3D motion graphics, broadcast design, and interactive UI animation. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.

Find Motion Designer Jobs

Overview

Open roles22
Top employerNen Creative
Top citySan Francisco, CA
Cities hiring8
Work type40% On-site
Top industryTechnology

Showing 5 of 22+ Motion Designer jobs

KIOXIA
3D Motion Graphic / Video Designer - 2261
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KIOXIA
Added 2w ago
3D Motion Graphic / Video Designer - 2261
KIOXIA
San Jose, California
Creative & Design
Product Management
UI/UX Design
$108k - $181k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree

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Checkr
Sr. Designer, Motion Graphics
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Checkr
Added 2w ago
Sr. Designer, Motion Graphics
Checkr
San Francisco, California
Content & Communications
Creative & Design
Multimedia Production
$111k - $130k/yr
Hybrid
1,001-5,000

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Gusto
Brand & Motion Designer
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Gusto
Added 2w ago
Brand & Motion Designer
Gusto
San Francisco, California
Business Development
Growth Marketing
Marketing
$146k - $222k/yr
1,001-5,000

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24 Seven Talent
Senior Motion Graphic Designer
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24 Seven Talent
Added 3w ago
Senior Motion Graphic Designer
24 Seven Talent
Irvine, California
Creative & Design
Multimedia Production
Motion Graphics
$130k - $145k/yr
On-Site
None

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ByteDance
Motion Designer
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ByteDance
Added 3w ago
Motion Designer
ByteDance
San Jose, California
Creative & Design
Multimedia Production
Motion Graphics
$122k - $209k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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See All 22 Motion Designer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Motion Designer Jobs by City in California

Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.

San Francisco
10 jobs
Los Angeles
4 jobs
Irvine
2 jobs
San Jose
2 jobs
Hawthorne
1 job
Menlo Park
1 job
Culver City
1 job
Santa Monica
1 job

Motion Designer Job Market in California

A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

Nen Creative
Nen Creative2 open roles
Gusto
Gusto1 open role
Monks
Monks1 open role

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software
  • Energy
  • Staffing & Recruiting
  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Consulting & Professional Services

What California Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in motion designer jobs across California.

  • Proficiency in Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, or comparable motion design software
  • Portfolio demonstrating completed motion graphics or animation projects across multiple formats
  • Bachelor's degree in motion design, animation, graphic design, or a related creative field
  • Experience with broadcast design, digital advertising, or streaming content production
  • Strong understanding of typography, composition, and visual storytelling principles
  • Ability to collaborate with creative directors, editors, and marketing teams on fast-moving deadlines

Motion Designer Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a motion designer in California?

Motion design has no state-issued license in California, so the path runs through education and portfolio work. Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in animation, graphic design, or a related field from a program at a California art school or university, though strong self-taught candidates with professional-grade portfolios are regularly hired. Building a focused reel with diverse project types, including broadcast, digital, and interactive work, is the most decisive step before applying.

How much do motion designers make in California?

Motion designers in California earn a median of about $130,540 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $71,710 for the lowest 10% to over $206,160 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire motion designers in California?

Employers hiring motion designers in California right now include Nen Creative, Gusto, and Monks, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of entertainment studios, streaming platforms, and technology companies makes it one of the deepest markets in the country for in-house motion design roles.

Which California cities have the most motion designer jobs?

San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Irvine have the most motion designer openings in California. Los Angeles dominates because of its density of entertainment studios, advertising agencies, and streaming company headquarters, while San Francisco and San Diego reflect demand from technology firms and digital marketing teams that rely on motion graphics for product and brand work.

Are there remote motion designer jobs in California?

Yes, and more than most creative fields. About 60% of motion designer openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how well the work translates to distributed workflows. Post-production, explainer video, and digital advertising projects are the most consistently remote, while broadcast and live-event design roles typically require on-site presence.

How can I get hired as a motion designer in California with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is a junior or associate motion designer role, which large California entertainment companies and advertising agencies post specifically for candidates with limited professional history. Building a reel through freelance projects, volunteer work with nonprofits, or spec work for real brands demonstrates practical skill when a resume is thin. Many candidates move in laterally from video editing or graphic design roles, where overlapping software skills make the transition credible to California hiring managers.

Where can I find and apply to motion designer jobs in California?

You can find and apply to motion designer jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings from employers across the state. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each one.

See All 22 Motion Designer Jobs in California

Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Motion Designer Jobs