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3D Character Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Character Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D. * Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself. * Are ...

BMI Merchandise

Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

... 3D character products, ideally within toys, redemption, or licensed consumer products. * Strong illustration and technical sketching skills; proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop required.

BMI Merchandise

Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site

$80K - $110K/yr

... 3D character products, ideally within toys, redemption, or licensed consumer products. * Strong illustration and technical sketching skills; proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop required.

Imagine Staffing Technology

Plush Designer

Lakewood, NJ · On-site +1

$80K - $110K/yr

... 3D character products, ideally within toys, redemption, or licensed consumer products. * Strong illustration and technical sketching skills; proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop required.

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or gaming assets will not be considered. * Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as ...

SCALIS

Character Designer

Berkeley, CA · On-site

... large-scale 3D drone performances viewed by audiences around the world. Working closely with ... As a Character Designer, you'll be responsible for: * Design original characters from early concept ...

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 ...

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT

Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or gaming assets will not be considered. * Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as ...

Trove Brands

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or gaming assets will not be considered. * Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as ...

Trov

3D Generalist

Lehi, UT · On-site

Portfolios centered on character animation, architectural visualization, automotive rendering, or gaming assets will not be considered. * Expert proficiency in industry-standard 3D software such as ...

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3D Character information

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$10

$19

$37

How much do 3d character jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d character in the United States is $19.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $24.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a 3d character?

3D Character Artists are professionals who create three-dimensional models of characters for use in video games, movies, animation, and other digital media. They use specialized software to sculpt, texture, and render characters, ensuring they are visually appealing and suitable for animation or gameplay. Their work often involves collaborating with concept artists, animators, and game designers to bring characters to life in a virtual environment.

What are some common challenges 3d character artists face when collaborating with other departments in game development?

3D Character Artists often work closely with animators, riggers, and game designers to ensure that character models are not only visually appealing but also functional within the game engine. A common challenge is balancing high-quality detail with technical limitations like polygon count and texture size, which can require ongoing communication and compromise. Additionally, artists may need to adjust models based on feedback from animation or technical art teams to optimize for movement and real-time performance. Understanding the workflow and constraints of other departments is key to delivering assets that meet both artistic and technical requirements.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3d character artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Character Artist, you need strong skills in modeling, sculpting, texturing, and a solid understanding of anatomy, typically supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter, and experience with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity are highly valued. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are standout soft skills in this role. These competencies are essential for creating visually appealing, technically sound characters that meet artistic and production requirements in games, film, or animation.

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

Aspect3D Character3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating detailed, animated characters for games, films, and animationsModeling various objects and environments, including characters, props, and scenes
Skills & ToolsCharacter anatomy, rigging, texturing, animation; software like Maya, Blender, ZBrushHard surface modeling, topology, UV mapping; software like Maya, 3ds Max, Blender
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation houses, film productionVFX companies, game studios, product design firms

While both roles involve 3D modeling, 3D Characters specialize in creating animated, detailed characters for entertainment media, often requiring rigging and texturing skills. 3D Modelers have a broader scope, modeling various objects and environments, including characters, but may not focus on animation or character-specific details.

More about 3D Character jobs

What states have the most 3D Character jobs?

States with the most job openings for 3D Character jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to 3D Character jobs?

For 3D Character jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

3D Character jobs near you
Infographic showing various 3D Character job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,680 per year, or $19.1 per hour.

Lead 3D Artist - Unannounced Project

Seattle, WA • On-site

Lightfox Games
1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Lightfox Gamesexternal

$135K - $165K/yr

Other

Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

Lightfox Games is seeking a talented and enthusiastic Lead 3D Artist to join our Seattle, Washington based team to work on an unannounced mobile game for a world-class IP and Publisher. We are looking to build an organization of talented individuals operating in small teams with high levels of ownership. This role is hybrid out of our downtown Seattle office, with approximately 50% of time expected in-person. When remote, we're a quick-to-videocall, video-on studio to keep collaboration fast and effective.

Responsibilities
  • Own the character art pipeline end-to-end, establishing the standards, and workflows that define the game's characters
  • Create high-quality 3D assets, including characters, props, weapons, and environment art, that meet mobile performance requirements and align with the IP's visual identity
  • Work across disciplines as needed, contributing to environments, levels, and architectural/building assets alongside the character pipeline
  • Collaborate with Art Direction, Design, and Engineering to establish and maintain art pipelines, standards, and best practices
  • Optimize models, textures, and materials to balance visual fidelity with mobile performance constraints
  • Mentor and provide constructive feedback to other artists, helping elevate the overall quality bar
  • Lead the visual development of the game, from early concept exploration through final in-engine polish
Requirements
  • 8+ years of professional game development experience, including lead-level ownership of a character or 3D art pipeline on at least one shipped title
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in 3D modeling, texturing, and material creation across a range of asset types, including characters and environments
  • Proven ability to set and maintain a visual style across a team, with experience mentoring or leading other artists
  • Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter/Designer, and Photoshop
  • Experience with Unity and its asset pipeline
  • Solid understanding of real-time rendering constraints, PBR workflows, and texture budgets for mobile platforms
  • Comfortable working multi-disciplinarily across characters, props, and environments as the project requires
  • Strong communication skills and a collaborative mindset, comfortable working in small, fast-moving teams
Nice to Have
  • Experience working within an established IP or licensed property
  • Experience with stylized art directions
  • Experience with environment and level art, including architectural/building assets
  • Experience leveraging AI tools in art production workflows
Compensation

US$135,000 – US$165,000 depending on experience, plus health/vision/dental coverage, 401(k) matching, commuting benefits, and equity.

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