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3D Character Rigging Jobs in Manhattan, NY (NOW HIRING)

3D Character Rigging information

See Manhattan, NY salary details

$11

$21

$41

How much do 3d character rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d character rigging in Manhattan, NY is $21.05, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.86 and $26.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the salary of 3D character rigging artist?

The salary of a 3D character rigging artist typically ranges from $50,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level artists may earn less, while experienced professionals with advanced skills in software like Maya or Blender can earn higher salaries, especially in larger studios or competitive markets.

What is the difference between 3D Character Rigging vs 3D Modeler?

Aspect3D Character Rigging3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating skeletons and controls for animationModeling 3D objects and characters
Skills RequiredRigging techniques, anatomy, software proficiencyModeling, texturing, topology
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, VFXDesign studios, game studios, VFX
CertificationsOften requires knowledge of rigging tools and softwareFocus on modeling and texturing skills

While both roles are essential in 3D production, 3D Character Rigging specializes in preparing characters for animation by creating movable skeletons, whereas 3D Modelers focus on creating the detailed 3D assets themselves. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job focus within the 3D industry.

How do I get into 3D character rigging?

To get into 3D character rigging, develop skills in 3D modeling and animation software such as Maya or Blender, and learn rigging techniques including skeletal structures and control systems. Building a strong portfolio with rigging projects and understanding anatomy and movement are essential for entry-level positions in the field.
What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY? The most popular types of 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY are:
What are popular job titles related to 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY? For 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY look for? The top searched job categories for 3D Character Rigging jobs in Manhattan, NY are:
What cities near Manhattan, NY are hiring for 3D Character Rigging jobs? Cities near Manhattan, NY with the most 3D Character Rigging job openings:

Rive Motion Designer and Animator (Contract-to-Hire)

Rilla

New York, NY • On-site

$60 - $100/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

A Foundational Company
Rilla is on a mission to index the offline world.
Today, we've built the leading sales coaching software for organizations doing sales offline. We have over 1000 customers, including The Home Depot, KKR, Neighborly, and PulteGroup, using our product to enable AI sales coaching across their organization.
We are backed by Google Ventures, Bessemer Ventures, Crew Capital, and Broom Ventures, along with others.
We're an in office team in NYC with builders who operate like high speed reinforcement learners. We obsess over our customers, move at a high velocity, are not afraid of failure, and look to maximize our real-world impact.
If you want to build the products and systems for how billions of conversations in the real world are captured and indexed, Rilla is the place to do it.
The Role
At Rilla, you'll be at the forefront of transforming our product into an experience that feels as intuitive, playful, and rewarding as the best consumer games. You'll design UI animations, build out our character universe, and bring it all to life with bold, innovative motion and art styles.
As part of our Games team, you'll collaborate closely with engineering, product, and design to craft animations that don't just surprise and delight, but actively inspire our customers to hit their goals and celebrate every one of their wins along the way. You are a creative problem solver who will move fast, experiment constantly, and push the boundaries of what a product experience can be to keep it deeply engaging and retentive.
Your primary playground will be our mobile and desktop app. You will also have opportunities to extend Rilla's motion language into our website, marketing creative, and other key brand moments.
This role is perfect for someone obsessed with game mechanics, passionate about creating joyful, immersive product experiences, and ready to thrive in a high-autonomy, high-expectation environment.
What We Value
  • An infinite learner. Someone who is relentless in their curiosity.
  • A customer obsessive. Someone who deeply care about delighting customers and solving real pains, not vanity metrics.
  • A winning attitude. You thrive with extreme accountability, learning as a team, and both giving and receiving rapid feedback.
  • Extreme empathy. Our customers are not tech companies. They live and work in the real world. Empathy is critical to arriving at correct solutions.
  • Unafraid of failure. You take risks. You see failure as an opportunity to learn, grow, and be better the next time. In a weird way, you trick your brain into being excited when you fail, because it means you got a new opportunity to learn more.

What We Require
  • Summary: 2+ years of experience in motion design, interactive media, game development - or a strong portfolio of personal projects showcasing diverse styles and technical excellence.
  • Motion Design: Proficiency in Rive, Lottie, and After Effects, with a strong eye for detail and aptitude in learning new tools and hands-on experience in production-ready animations
  • Character Design: Skilled at bringing characters to life through AI-powered prompting and creative iteration, embracing video generation tools over traditional rigging, lighting, and shader pipelines
  • Technical Collaboration: Experience working with engineers on animation implementation, understanding technical constraints and optimization
  • Sound and Haptic Integration: Knowledge of how motion, sound, and haptic feedback work together to create cohesive user experiences
  • AI-Augmented Workflow: You're well-versed in AI tools and excited to experiment with new software to create compelling animations
  • Impeccable Taste and Brand Intuition: Ability to translate Rilla's dynamic brand energy and art style into a motion design language
  • Passion for Games: An understanding of game design principles and player experience, with a sharp eye for what makes interactions addictive, rewarding, and fun using animations that engage and delight

Nice to have (ordered):
  • Examples of motion design work similar to Duolingo or other consumer game platforms
  • Experience with performance optimization for web and mobile
  • General 3D skills like modeling, texturing, rigging, and animating

Compensation
This role is contract, open to remote, with the ability for full-time conversion to be in-person in NYC. Compensation: $60-$100/hr.