Anybody know what the starting salary is. Because I might be intersted in going to the animation field, and realted 3d stuff, when I go to college. But that is a long way off.

Why do you want to know the salary? Either you want to do animation and dedicate you life to it or you don't. When learning stuff like 3D animation or other CG, it is probably best to do it on your own (save the money for buying software and hardware). The truth is that most colleges just teach from the manual. There are, however, a few colleges/schools that specialize in CG, and have teachers that actually do work in the CG field. And about pay: It really depends on who you work for, if you actually do work for someone. Some ppl. freelance, while others work for studios like ILM. I've heard that some animators make a few thousand a week, but they are some of the best and work for big name studios. Also, they probably work like 60+ hours a week, doing things like animating dust movement or fat giggling for months or years.

I know many 3D animators and 2D people from when I worked at a game company in Valencia and the pay is mediochre. Better than most though, but still mediochre overall. Movie type 3 dimensional art most likely pays more but I wouldn't know. And as CloudedinMystery says why are you even concerned about salary. Art transcends work and becomes a passion, if you don't have the passion now you never will.

well I'm at Sheridan College in Canada, and they say the starting salary for animators in US is around 90 K and 100 K US. I think that's pretty damn Good for starters. that's some of the highest I've heard. I hope I get Into a good animation studio.. and then make my own!

Its important and practical to worry about salary another thing to consider is the availability of jobs

Well, fresh out of college your not going to make a hell of a lot unless your really really good at what you specialize in. And being at the right place at the right time to get hired on us only up to fate to decide. I got a quote from full sail for starter 3d CG artist salaries...it was 35-40k fresh out of school for your first year. From there on up it all depends on how good you are, where you are, and where your willing to work. Some 3d CG artist get paid upwards of 90-100k a year, but you have to remember, they aren't fresh out of school, and they are really really good at what they do.

IF YOU CAN GET A JOB IN 4 YEARS THE MARKET WILL HAVE OVER 2 MILLION SO CALLED ANIMATORS FOR 95,000 JOBS YOU WILL MAKE MORE MONEY AT MCDONALDS