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3D Character Animator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

3D Animator

Wilmington, NC

A solid grasp of animation principles demonstrated through character, VFX, and motion graphics animation is essential. The 3D Animator will work across all aspects of a game's life cycle, owning the ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is ...

Scattermesh

3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map systems is ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Deep understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map ...

Scattermesh

Senior 3D Character Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$124K - $130K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire experienced 3D Character ... Deep understanding of FACS, facial blendshapes, facial performance animation, and wrinkle-map ...

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ... Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project ...

Aquent

Visual Designer

Orlando, FL · On-site

$58.60 - $65.11/hr

Create 2D and 3D character animations, motion graphics, and interactive motion experiences for mobile applications and web platforms. * Build and deliver production-ready interactive animations ...

Zoic Studios

NYC Senior Character Animators

Manhattan, NY · Remote

$55 - $65/hr

Position Description We're looking for an experienced Character Animator to join our team for a ... Professional experience as a 3D animator in film and/or television VFX -- required * Reel of most ...

Zoic Studios

NYC Senior Character Animators

Manhattan, NY · On-site +1

$55 - $65/hr

Position Description We're looking for an experienced Character Animator to join our team for a ... Professional experience as a 3D animator in film and/or television VFX - required * Reel of most ...

Flying Bark Productions

3D Animation Lead

Denver, NC · On-site +1

... of character animation and storytelling. We are working on exciting projects such as Avatar: The ... The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as ...

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3D Character Animator information

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$132.5K

How much do 3d character animator jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for 3d character animator in the United States is $63,866.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $49,500.00 and $62,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the 3D Character Animator position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Character Animator, you need a strong background in animation principles, anatomy, and computer graphics, often supported by a degree in animation or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max is essential, and having a demo reel or certification can enhance your qualifications. Creativity, strong communication skills, and teamwork are crucial soft skills for working effectively on collaborative projects. These skills ensure you can bring characters to life convincingly while meeting project goals and deadlines in dynamic production environments.

What are some common challenges faced by 3D Character Animators in a production environment?

3D Character Animators often face challenges such as meeting tight deadlines, ensuring consistency with a project’s artistic vision, and adapting to feedback from directors or clients. Balancing creativity with technical constraints, like optimizing animations for real-time engines or specific platforms, can also be demanding. Additionally, collaborating closely with modelers, riggers, and other team members means strong communication and adaptability are essential. Overcoming these challenges helps animators deliver high-quality work and maintain efficient production workflows.

What is a 3D Character Animator job?

A 3D Character Animator is responsible for creating fluid and expressive character movements in films, video games, and other digital media. They use specialized software, such as Autodesk Maya or Blender, to bring characters to life through motion, expressions, and body language. Their work involves understanding animation principles, character rigging, and storytelling techniques to create believable performances. 3D Character Animators collaborate with modelers, riggers, and directors to ensure animations meet artistic and technical requirements.

More about 3D Character Animator jobs
What cities are hiring for 3D Character Animator jobs? Cities with the most 3D Character Animator job openings:
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3D Character Animator jobs near you
Infographic showing various 3D Character Animator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% Full Time, 25% Part Time, 6% Temporary, and 19% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $63,866 per year, or $30.7 per hour.
3D Character Animator (6 month contract)

3D Character Animator (6 month contract)

Sunday Inc

Redwood City, CA • On-site

Contractor

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Join Us in Building the Future of Home Robotics
At Sunday, we're developing personal robots to reclaim the hours lost to repetitive tasks. We're focused on an ambitious goal to make generalized robots broadly accessible, enabling households to take back quality time.
We have spent the last 18 months building a talented team, securing capital, and validating our technology. We are now seeking passionate individuals to join us in the next phase of our growth. If you are ready to apply your skills to the forefront of robotics innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
What to Expect
We are seeking an experienced 3D Character Animator (6 month contract) to join our product team. In this role, you will create iconic character moments and subtle physical cues for human-robot interaction that make Memo a pleasure to interact with. This contract has the potential to transition into a full-time role based on performance and business needs.
What You'll Do
  • Craft Iconic Moments: As customer's first home robot, everything Memo does will make an impression. You'll shape key moments that establish Memo's approachability and reliability.
  • Rapid Iteration with Engineering and Product Teams: As part of a cross-functional team, you'll prepare several rough mock ups for each interaction, then refine and down-select them iteratively by incorporating feedback from product, engineering and users.
  • Build Memo's Movement Vocabulary: Define and refine Memo's movement style as it goes about household tasks.

What You'll Bring
  • Industry-Grade Animation Experience: A portfolio demonstrating 3D character work in industry-standard tools such as Maya or Blender.
  • Movement Design for Physical Products: Experience in robotics, installation art, or related fields creating interactive experiences in physical space.
  • Excellent Communication, Collaboration and Documentation: A strong commitment to clarifying constraints and opportunities, tracking animation versions, and synthesizing feedback to guide future animations.
  • An Explorer's Spirit: We're charting new territory. If harnessing mid-process discoveries and overcoming unexpected obstacles to bring a character to life excites you, this is the job for you!

Nice To Haves
  • Rigging or Modeling Experience: Experience building your own rigs or 3D environments to place characters in a broader world.
  • Procedural or Responsive Animation Experience: Past work with animations that respond to user inputs or dynamic environments.

At Sunday Robotics, we're building technology shaped by real people - curious, creative, and diverse. We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.

Apply