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3D Rigger Jobs in North Carolina (NOW HIRING)

Rigging and Skinning Experience with 3D Creatures is not required, but is certainly helpful. Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline. You must be able to communicate clearly and ...

The 3D Animation Lead role involves managing and guiding a team of animators on a show, acting as ... An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data ...

Blender Tutor

Chapel Hill, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Wilmington, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Charlotte, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Matthews, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Durham, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Raleigh, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Winston Salem, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Blender Tutor

Greensboro, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Deep knowledge of Blender 3D modeling, sculpting, UV unwrapping, texturing, materials with shader nodes, lighting, rigging, animation, physics simulation, and rendering with Cycles and Eevee engines.

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Charlotte, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Matthews, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Greensboro, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Durham, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Wilmington, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Raleigh, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

... rigging, rendering with Arnold and V-Ray, particle systems, and scene management. Ability to ... Skilled at teaching 3D modeling, texturing, and rendering workflows in 3DS Max. Guides students ...

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3D Rigger information

See North Carolina salary details

$12

$23

$33

How much do 3d rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d rigger in North Carolina is $23.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.96 and $27.07 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a 3D rigger?

3D Riggers are professionals in the animation, film, and gaming industries who create digital skeletons for 3D models. Their work involves designing and building the underlying structures that allow 3D characters or objects to move realistically when animated. Riggers use specialized software to set up controls and deformers, enabling animators to pose and animate models efficiently. Their expertise ensures that characters can express a wide range of movements and emotions, which is essential for believable animation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a 3D rigger, and why are they important?

To thrive as a 3D Rigger, you need a strong understanding of anatomy, movement, and 3D modeling principles, often supported by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages such as Python or MEL is typically required. Excellent problem-solving, attention to detail, and strong communication skills help in collaborating with animators and technical artists. These skills ensure the creation of efficient, realistic rigs that enable smooth animation and enhance overall production quality.

What are some common challenges 3D riggers face when working on animated projects?

3D Riggers often encounter challenges such as creating rigs that are both flexible and stable enough to handle a wide range of character movements without deformation or technical issues. Balancing the needs of animators for control and simplicity, while ensuring the rig performs efficiently in production, can be demanding. Additionally, adapting rigs for different software pipelines and collaborating closely with modelers and animators to troubleshoot problems are frequent parts of the job. Overcoming these challenges requires strong technical skills, creativity, and effective communication within the team.

How do you become a 3D rigger?

To become a 3D rigger, you typically need a strong foundation in 3D modeling and animation, often gained through a degree in computer graphics, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in rigging tools such as Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, along with knowledge of anatomy and scripting, is essential; building a portfolio of rigging projects can also help demonstrate your skills to employers.

How much do 3D riggers make?

3D riggers typically earn between $50,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior riggers with specialized skills or working in high-demand markets can earn higher salaries, and proficiency with tools like Maya or Blender can influence earning potential.

What are popular job titles related to 3D Rigger jobs in North Carolina?

For 3D Rigger jobs in North Carolina, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various 3D Rigger job openings in North Carolina as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,179 per year, or $23.6 per hour.

3D Creature Artist

Winston Salem, NC

Epoch Games
PC Games • 1 - 10 employees

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. We have no centrally-located headquarters and are unincorporated at this time. Most of the original founding members were modders developing the total conversion Middle Earth Roleplaying Project (MERP) mod for the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/merp-middle-earth-roleplaying-project
Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 (UE4):
https://www.unrealengine.com/
For more information about the game, please check out our IndieDb page:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-lays-of-althas-sundered-order
NOTE: The address above is the address related to Epoch Games' Incorporation, but is not related to the place of work. We are a fully-online team with no central headquarters at this time. Communication is mostly done via Slack (an instant messaging application) and Trello (an online project collaboration tool).

Job Description

In this volunteer position we are looking for someone who specializes in creating 3D realistic Creatures (yet with fantastical and heraldic touches/details), which includes Mesh Sculpting, Texturing and Fur/Hair Card experience, for "The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order" (LoA:SO). These Creatures would be seem alongside realistic Human characters. Rigging and Skinning Experience with 3D Creatures is not required, but is certainly helpful.
Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline. You must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with other team-members and not be afraid to ask should any problems arise. We are an English-speaking team, so English fluency is a must.
If you are comfortable with teaching, you may be called upon to aid the more junior members of the team in any relevant area.
Other duties include following team policies (given through team orientation as upon acceptance to the team) as well as attending meetings through Slack (our instant message program that we use to communicate)

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

  • Creating realistic Creature meshes and textures
  • Creating Fur sculpts using Hair Card and Alpha Planes
  • Physically-based Rendering (PBR) experience for game sculpting required
  • Previous experience working with low-poly/game-ready assets required
  • Full Texturing ability (Diffuse, Normal, Displacement etc).
  • Able to work effectively and accurately from pre-defined concept art and designs.
  • Able to work with and provide constructive criticism and feedback.
  • Communication and Team-collaboration skills.
  • A passion for modeling and a dedication to creating AAA quality games.
Additional Information

Required Software:

  • Unreal Engine 4 (https://www.unrealengine.com/register)
  • 3D Modeling Software, be it 3DS Max, Maya, Blender or similar. Must have valid license for said software.
  • Adobe Photoshop,  GIMP, Substance Painter, Marmoset, 3D Coat, or similar for creating high-quality 2D Textures.