Illustrator vs Motion Designer
Measured from each occupation's own live postings: related jobs with a real gap between them. Posted pay favors the motion designer by about $25k at the midpoint.
The short answer
On pay, motion designers come out ahead by about $25k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $61k–$127k against $49k–$89k for illustrators. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
On skills, they are related jobs with a real gap between them. There is a shared core, and then each side asks for things the other rarely does. The readiness numbers further down say how far a typical profile on each side already reaches into the other, and which direction is the easier move.
Illustrator
Motion Designer
motion designer jobs · motion designer salary · motion designer career guide · careers for motion designers
The overlap, measured
Switching, both directions
The direction matters: motion designer → illustrator reads 49% ready, the reverse only 32%. Skill overlap is not symmetric.
Illustrator → Motion Designer
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What motion designer postings ask for that illustrator profiles usually lack: After Effects, Video Editing, Branding, Figma.
Motion Designer → Illustrator
Transition estimate: 12–24 mo.
What illustrator postings ask for that motion designer profiles usually lack: Technical Writing, Illustrator.
Open illustrator roles
Senior Illustrator at MoniepointRemote, London, United KingdomAug 21Unlock
Principal Concept Artist, Environment - League of Legends at RiotgamesLos Angeles, USAAug 6Unlock
Illustrator Children’s Book Art at TwineRemoteJul 27Apply
Concept Artist / Illustrator at Epoch GamesUnited States · RemoteJul 24Apply
Open motion designer roles
Creative Automation Motion Designer (12 months FTC) at DeptToronto; Canada$60k–$70k3d agoUnlock- Technical Motion Designer (12 months FTC) at DeptToronto; Canada$60k–$70k3d agoUnlock
Senior Motion Designer at HarveySan Francisco · Remote$136k–$187k1w agoUnlock
Senior Motion Designer at MonzoLondon · Remote1w agoUnlock
See the whole board for both
94 open roles across the two.
Related comparisons
- Graphic Designer vs Motion Designer63% peak overlap
- Motion Designer vs Video Editor44% peak overlap
- Brand Designer vs Illustrator35% peak overlap
- Graphic Designer vs Illustrator32% peak overlap
Which one do your skills favor?
Run the instrument with your own skills and both numbers recompute for you. Free.
Quick answers
Which pays more, illustrator or motion designer?
On pay, motion designers come out ahead by about $25k a year at the midpoint of posted bands: $61k–$127k against $49k–$89k for illustrators. These are advertised figures from postings that state a salary, not estimates.
Are illustrator and motion designer the same job?
On skills, they are related jobs with a real gap between them. There is a shared core, and then each side asks for things the other rarely does. The skills both sets of postings want most are Motion Design, Writing & Editing, Illustration, Photoshop.
Can an illustrator become a motion designer?
Yes, and the numbers say how far along you already are: a typical illustrator profile covers 32% of what motion designer postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo. The instrument lists the exact skills that make up the rest.
Can a motion designer become an illustrator?
Going the other way, a typical motion designer profile covers 49% of what illustrator postings ask for. Our estimate for the move is 12–24 mo. The two directions are not symmetric: motion designer to illustrator is the easier move, 49% against 32%. The route page has the gap itemized.
How many illustrator and motion designer jobs are open right now?
Right now our board has 5 illustrator openings and 89 motion designer openings, each linking to the original posting. The board refreshes every night, so the counts move with the market. Hiring the most illustrators at the moment: Moniepoint (1), Riotgames (1), Twine (1). For motion designers: Monks (7), Dept (5), Scopely (3).
Pay is the posted middle half; readiness is how much of the other role’s skill demand a typical profile covers. Refreshed nightly.