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3D Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Scattermesh

3D Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a skilled ...

Scattermesh

3D Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a skilled ...

Scattermesh

Senior Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire Senior 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a ...

Scattermesh

Senior Lighting Artist

Herndon, VA · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

Job Summary Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire Senior 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · Hybrid

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and ... General 3d modeling skills. * Experience in practical lighting for film. Candidates should include ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · On-site

$118K - $185K/yr

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and ... General 3d modeling skills. * Experience in practical lighting for film. Candidates should include ...

CD PROJEKT RED

Senior Lighting Artist

Boston, MA · Hybrid

$118K - $185K/yr

You will report to and work closely with our Lead Lighting Artist, and the cinematic and ... General 3d modeling skills. * Experience in practical lighting for film. Candidates should include ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · Hybrid

$122K - $146K/yr

The Senior CG Lighting Artist will focus mainly on facial performance replacement with a handoff to ... Experience with ZBrush and other 3D software is advantageous. * Familiarity with scripting or tool ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

The Senior CG Lighting Artist will focus mainly on facial performance replacement with a handoff to ... Experience with ZBrush and other 3D software is advantageous. * Familiarity with scripting or tool ...

Valicy

3D Artist

Wilmington, NC

The ideal candidate for 3D Artist has experience modeling, texturing, and lighting engine-ready assets in a stylized world. A solid grasp of form, color, and light for both 2D and 3D art assets is ...

Valicy

3D Artist

Greenville, NC

The ideal candidate for 3D Artist has experience modeling, texturing, and lighting engine-ready assets in a stylized world. A solid grasp of form, color, and light for both 2D and 3D art assets is ...

Tolan

3D Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

The Role We're hiring an artist to help build the 3D world of Tolan. You'll create beautiful ... Tune materials, shaders, lighting setups, and VFX to create a stylized, expressive and rich world.

Prisms VR

3D Artist (Remote)

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$110K - $140K/yr

As a 3D Artist, you will craft characters, environments, and educational 3D motion graphic ... Scene Layout and Lighting in Unity; * Creating Particle Effects; * Asset optimization for Mobile ...

MARKETSCALE LLC

3D Artist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

... scene by lighting and texturing the product, and then add animation to show how the product ... The 3D Artist position is a full-time role, with competitive salary, full employee medical benefits ...

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How much do 3d lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d lighting artist in the United States is $39.46, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27.16 and $48.56 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much can a 3D artist make?

A 3D lighting artist's salary varies based on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 annually. Entry-level artists may earn less, while experienced professionals with strong skills in software like Maya or Blender can earn higher salaries, especially in competitive markets or specialized fields such as gaming or film. Certifications and a strong portfolio can also influence earning potential.

What does a 3D lighting artist do?

A 3D lighting artist is responsible for creating and adjusting lighting within 3D environments and models to enhance visual storytelling, mood, and realism. They use software such as Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine and often collaborate with modelers and animators to achieve the desired visual effects.

How much do 3D lighting artists make?

The average salary for a 3D lighting artist ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level artists typically earn lower salaries, while experienced professionals working on high-profile projects or with advanced skills can earn higher wages.

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

To thrive as a 3D Lighting Artist, you need a strong background in computer graphics, an understanding of lighting theory, color, and composition, often supported by a degree in art, animation, or related fields. Proficiency with industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, Houdini, and rendering engines like Arnold or V-Ray is essential, and knowledge of scripting languages or real-time engines like Unreal Engine is a plus. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with artists and meeting visual storytelling goals. These competencies ensure visually compelling scenes and seamless integration within production pipelines, resulting in high-quality animations or games.

What does a 3D Lighting Artist do?

A 3D Lighting Artist is responsible for creating and implementing lighting in 3D environments to enhance mood, realism, and storytelling. They work with rendering engines, shaders, and lighting techniques to achieve the desired visual quality in films, video games, and animations. Their role involves adjusting light sources, shadows, and reflections to ensure scenes look natural or stylized according to the project’s needs.

What is the salary of a lighting artist?

The salary of a 3D lighting artist typically ranges from $50,000 to $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced artists working on high-profile projects or in major markets can earn higher salaries.

What are some typical daily responsibilities of a 3D Lighting Artist within a production team?

As a 3D Lighting Artist, your typical day involves collaborating with animators, modelers, and compositors to design and implement lighting setups that enhance the mood and realism of scenes. You will adjust lighting rigs, tweak material properties, and render test images, ensuring the final visuals meet the project’s artistic direction and technical requirements. Regularly reviewing feedback from art directors and supervisors, you'll iterate on your work and help address technical challenges related to rendering and scene optimization. Working closely with other departments helps maintain visual consistency and ensures deadlines are met throughout the production pipeline.

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3D Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various 3D Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 86% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,070 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

3D Lighting Artist

Scattermesh

Herndon, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

Scattermesh is a fast-paced small company looking to disrupt, transform, and innovate on behalf of our clients. We are inventors, technologists, artisans, problem solvers, and collaborators seeking to redefine the content experience by changing how content is managed and delivered to clients. We have an amazing team and we want to add a few talented revolutionaries who want to make a difference solving hard problems. Create your story and start making an indelible impact today.
Job Summary
Scattermesh is expanding its team and we are looking to hire 3D Lighting artists to work across client projects on a full time basis on-site in Herndon, VA. The role requires a skilled artist with strong understanding of lighting and rendering photorealistic images of primarily organic characters. The ideal candidate will have experience lighting scenes from photo reference and should have a strong understanding of customizing shaders to replicate real interactions between surfaces and light.
Responsibilities and Duties
  • Realize the Vision - Elevate high quality 3D character models by optimizing textures and shaders to create realistic renders.
  • Construct Reality - Create and maintain the overall look, color, and quality across multiple sequences to create storylines.
  • Collaborate - Work alongside your fellow artists and studio managers to meet the needs of today while preparing for and solving the problems of tomorrow.

Qualifications and Skills
  • 1-9+ years' experience as a 3D artist or relevant portfolio
  • Strong artistic fundamentals - scale, composition, perspective, proportion, mass and volume, light and color, and surface properties
  • Understanding of real-world lighting and photography, exposure, color grading, lens and camera behavior and HDR workflows
  • Mastery of standard art packages such as Maya, Arnold, Substance / Adobe Painter, etc
  • Skilled in look development and lighting for photorealistic renders
  • Skilled in replicating physically accurate lighting environments in 3D
  • Understanding of PBR rendering and optimizations using Arnold or similar engines
  • Experience working within an established studio pipeline and file structure
  • Is self-motivated and self-reliant
  • Must have a learning mind-set
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • US citizenship required

Benefits and Perks
Scattermesh is as obsessed about our employees as our customers. We want to provide great benefits and perks so you can focus on making an impact. We recognize that industry is moving away from better benefits so we have decided to do our part to start reversing the trend. Join us in our quest to disrupt, transform and innovate.
Benefits
  • Competitive Market Leading Pay
  • 25-30 days - Paid Time Off (PTO) / Holiday
  • 100% Company paid medical/dental/vision/plans
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401(k) Matching with no cliff vest

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