[Suirebit]

Director or Producer....ok...this is quite offtopic....of course that as a director you get more cash but that's another career path and skillset...we were talking about art careers, right?

You could as well said that you can earn more by being President of United States.

You're making ironies whenever I have a comment about work and I start to consider it personal. If you're so interested I get my insight from people who actually work full time in studios, overseas. In any regards, Europe pays less than other places...

[Justin Atkinson]

I wasn't attempting to be personal, just curious to know your sources.

When discussing serious topics like this it's better to hear from the experience of a professional.

No offense. I was just checking.

[Audrius]

Matte painting is not any special kind of vfx and is paid similarly like other vfx artists such as concept painters, compositors 3d people. I guess you can do more in 3d. In my opinion numbers written above are slightly too high. :) Of course there may be exceptions.

[imothep85]

For me its 350 euro per day, senior Matte-Painter in freelance, but im not in UK...

[Suirebit]

you surely respect yourself :D

[Audrius]

I think this is not about self-respectability. Very often it depends on what kind of company you work at and what kind of people you work with and of course how good you are. :)
As for London, even 80k may not be very much since you have to deal with that horrible dynamic tax system and London's prices for flat rent and traveling.

[Justin Atkinson]

I have just read on your site you work at Men From Mars

That's a pretty high (good) rate in my experience - I don't know anyone who's on 80k.

Okay 350 Euros = £280 I'd say average is £200-£250 - still that's good.