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2D Character Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... 2D game assets and animations. * Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... 2D game assets and animations. * Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc ...

$68K - $78K/yr

... the character of a place, creatively expressing the brand identity in in captivating and ... Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, InDesign (+CADtools), Illustrator, Acrobat), and MS ...

Senior Mechanical Engineer, Packaging

Boston, MA · On-site

$113K - $149K/yr

Create and maintain technical documentation, including 3D files, 2D drawings, BOMs, specifications ... Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for packaging dielines, graphic layout review, print documentation

... Illustrator) and 3D animation tools (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender) * Hands-on experience with AI ... Background in 3D animation, character animation, or generative motion techniques applied to product ...

Showing results 41-60

2d Character Illustrator information

See salary details

$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do 2d character illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for 2d character illustrator in the United States is $59,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $68,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a 2d character illustrator do?

A 2D Character Illustrator is an artist who specializes in creating visual representations of characters in a two-dimensional format. They design, sketch, and refine characters for use in video games, animations, comics, and other media. Their work involves developing unique character concepts, drawing poses, expressions, and costumes, often collaborating with writers, animators, and art directors to ensure the characters fit the story and style of the project. Mastery of digital illustration tools, creativity, and strong drawing skills are essential for this role.

What are some common challenges 2d character illustrators face when interpreting client briefs?

One common challenge for 2D Character Illustrators is translating a client's vision—which may be vague or open-ended—into a clear and appealing character design. This often requires strong communication skills to ask the right questions and clarify expectations, as well as the ability to iterate quickly based on feedback. Additionally, illustrators must balance creative expression with brand or project guidelines, ensuring their work aligns with the intended tone and style. Collaboration with writers, art directors, and other team members is essential to achieve a cohesive final result.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 2d character illustrator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 2D Character Illustrator, you need strong drawing skills, an understanding of anatomy and character design principles, and proficiency in digital illustration, often supported by a degree in art or related field. Familiarity with tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and drawing tablets such as Wacom is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to interpret feedback are essential soft skills in this role. These abilities ensure the creation of engaging, original characters that meet project requirements and client expectations.

What is the difference between 2D Character Illustrator vs 2D Concept Artist?

Aspect2D Character Illustrator2D Concept Artist
CredentialsPortfolio, illustration skills, sometimes formal art educationPortfolio, concept design skills, often formal art or design education
Work EnvironmentFreelance, studio, gaming, animation, publishingGame studios, film, animation, advertising
Industry UsageCharacter creation for games, comics, merchandiseInitial visual development, character concepts, environment sketches

While both roles involve creating visual art, a 2D Character Illustrator focuses on designing detailed character images for various media, whereas a 2D Concept Artist specializes in developing initial concepts and visual ideas for characters and environments during the early stages of a project. The skills and work environments overlap, but their primary focus differs in purpose and output.

What are popular job titles related to 2D Character Illustrator jobs?

For 2D Character Illustrator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various 2D Character Illustrator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 4% Contract, 1% Nights, and 1% Summer. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL • On-site

Arrow International Inc
Manufacturing • 1 - 5K employees

$80 - $120K/hr

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Provide mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to artists to promote growth and skill development.

  • Design and create visuals for game elements such as layouts, UI, logos, and characters, and produce high-quality 2D assets and VFX.

  • Ensure timely delivery of assets that meet project deadlines and maintain visual consistency.


Job description

Description:

Join the Fun at Arrow International!

Arrow International is the world’s #1 maker of charitable gaming products, from pull tabs and bingo paper to cutting-edge electronic gaming systems. Our products power entertainment in social and gaming venues around the globe, and we’re growing fast!


We're building a winning culture that’s all about teamwork, passion, and innovation. At Arrow, you’re not just another employee, you’re part of a high-performing team that’s redefining fun and giving back to communities. We believe in rewarding your hard work with profit-sharing, 401(k) matching, great benefits, and paid time off, including a bonus week every July!


If you're looking for a career that’s exciting, meaningful, and full of opportunity, Arrow is the place to be. 


Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Artist to join our Visual Development Team. The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography, animation, visual FX and character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You’ll play a key role in the overall development of our games’ look and style, ensure creative alignment, and maintain a high standard of work. The ideal candidate will have experience providing feedback, solving creative challenges, and driving visual consistency across projects.


Salary range commensurate with experience. This role provides competitive benefits including an annual performance bonus, profit sharing program, and a 401K with company match. 


The Targeted Pay Range for this role is $80 - $120,000. 


Primary Roles and Responsibilities


Leadership and Team Support:

  • Provide mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to artists at various experience levels to promote growth and skill development.
  • Support team members by troubleshooting artistic challenges and offering creative solutions.
  • Ensure the team's output aligns with project goals and meets Arrow’s quality standards.
  • Foster collaboration across the art team, programmers, and other stakeholders.

Artistic Contribution:

  • Conceptualize and design visuals for layouts, UI, logos, characters, and other game elements across multiple styles and themes.
  • Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX.
  • Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet production deadlines while maintaining visual consistency.
Requirements:

Experience and Education

  • Degree in Design, Fine Arts, Visual Arts, or related field (Associates or Bachelors).
  • 5+ years of work experience as an Illustrator, Graphic Designer, or similar role, with demonstrated leadership experience.
  • Portfolio showcasing high-quality industry-standard artwork, including 2D game assets and animations.
  • Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.) and experience with After Effects for VFX animation.
  • Strong understanding of design principles, color theory, and composition, with an eye for detail and precision.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members and provide leadership.
  • Open to constructive critique and committed to ongoing learning and development.
  • Must work well in a team environment

Preferred Experience:

  • Gaming or casino-related knowledge or background.
  • Knowledge of animation principles. Usage of Spine is considered a plus
  • Experience with 3D Software (Maya, Blender, etc.).

We offer a dynamic and creative environment, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to work on exciting projects in the gaming industry. If you are passionate about animation and gaming, we would love to hear from you!


PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
  • The noise level in the work environment is low.
  • May be required to sit for long and/or extended periods of time.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At Arrow International, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all individuals are valued and respected. We believe that embracing our differences makes us stronger, more innovative, and better positioned to serve our communities. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Arrow International is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals in all job titles without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, results of genetic testing,

veteran status, or physical or mental disability—except where such disability prevents performance of essential job functions and cannot be reasonably accommodated in accordance with applicable laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Arrow International is committed to complying with the spirit and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, participate in the interview process, undergo any pre-employment testing, or otherwise take part in the employee selection process, please contact us at hr@arrowinternational.com.


Arrow International does not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party agencies. Resumes submitted without an approved vendor agreement will become the property of Arrow International, and no fees will be paid if the candidate is hired.  


To ensure a safe and productive work environment, all candidates who receive a conditional job offer must successfully pass a confidential pre-employment drug screening, which generally consists of a hair drug test, and receive an acceptable result as a condition of employment.