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3D Rigging Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... artists and programmers to create high quality, stylized 3d character animations for games produced by the team - Rigging and weight painting the prepared 3d characters for animation - Animate real ...

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123.90K - $130K/yr

As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ... Ensure proper topology, rigging, and skinning for characters to meet animation and gameplay ...

The lead also coaches junior artists, collaborates with other departments, and supports production ... An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data ...

New

Technical Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$149.60K - $179.10K/yr

The Role We're looking for a Technical Artist / 3D Generalist who can create high-quality ... 3D workflows * Familiarity with physics-ready assets, rigging, articulation, collision, or ...

OR

$126.90K - $151.80K/yr

General knowledge of the 3D Realtime Art Pipeline. Including new AI art tools and traditional 3D ... rigging/skinning, VFX nodes, UI Design, creating and modifying shaders. Advanced knowledge of ...

3D Tutor

Palo Alto, CA · On-site +1

$60 - $100/hr

Deliver high-quality work that demonstrates strong technical fundamentals and artistic sensibility ... Strong skills in modeling, texturing, lighting, rigging, and animation. * Experience setting up ...

The lead also coaches junior artists, collaborates with other departments, and supports production ... An understanding of rigs and typical rigging set-ups, animation pipelines and transferring data ...

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

As of May 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for 3d rigging 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.

What is a 3D Rigging Artist job?

A 3D Rigging Artist is responsible for creating the skeletal frameworks used to animate 3D models in films, games, and other media. They build rigs that define how a character or object moves, ensuring natural and realistic motion. Their work involves setting up bones, controllers, and deformation systems like skinning. Rigging artists collaborate closely with animators and modelers to ensure smooth functionality. Strong knowledge of anatomy, movement, and technical skills in software like Maya or Blender is essential.

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

To thrive as a 3D Rigging Artist, you need a strong understanding of human and animal anatomy, kinematics, and a solid grasp of 3D rigging principles, often supported by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and knowledge of scripting (Python, MEL) is typically required, and certifications in these tools can be an advantage. Effective communication, problem-solving abilities, and collaboration skills help you work seamlessly within animation and VFX teams. These combined skills ensure that 3D models move realistically and efficiently, which is crucial for high-quality animation production.

What does a typical workday look like for a 3D Rigging Artist?

A typical day for a 3D Rigging Artist involves creating and refining digital skeletons and control systems for 3D characters or objects, collaborating with animators and modelers to ensure proper movement and deformation. You may spend time troubleshooting and adjusting rigs, developing custom scripts for workflow efficiency, and participating in team meetings to review project goals. Rigging Artists often work closely with other departments, such as animation and technical directors, to address feedback and maintain project consistency. Depending on the studio, you might also help document rigging solutions or mentor junior artists. This structured, collaborative environment helps ensure rapid problem-solving and a high-quality final product.
What cities are hiring for 3D Rigging Artist jobs? Cities with the most 3D Rigging Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Rigging Artist jobs? The most popular types of 3D Rigging Artist jobs are:
What states have the most 3D Rigging Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for 3D Rigging Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various 3D Rigging Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,070 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Job Title: 3D Animator
Department: NC Art
Location: Wilmington, NC
Reports To: Art Lead
Status: Exempt
Online portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work-related or personal projects outside of work-related activities
WHO WE ARE:


We are Valicy.

We make games. We also make the machines they run on.
What we're building matters. How we treat people matters more.
OUR MISSION
We exist to create excellent gaming experiences, treat our customers the way we want to be treated, and positively impact people's lives through a culture of care.
Seven values guide how we work. We call it our FIGHTER mindset:
Fun: Enjoy the journey together
Innovative: Consistently pushing new boundaries through creativity
Growth: Committed to growing personally and professionally
Humble amp; Passionate: It’s important to be both
Teamwork: Built on trust, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and results
Excellence: Pursuing high standards in everything we do
Relational: Building trust and relationships with customers and teammates


If this is the kind of place you've been looking for, let's talk.


SUMMARY: The ideal candidate has experience with animating characters and assets in a fun, stylized approach. 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 responsibility of animation through pre-production to the final milestone. Blending artistic expertise and technical ability, the 3D Animator will bring visually stimulating content to life that will enhance game play-ability and showcase original experiences to a wide player audience.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Understand company Mission, Vision, and Values and be an ambassador of MVV.
- Collaborate effectively with artists and programmers to create high quality, stylized 3d character animations for games produced by the team
- Rigging and weight painting the prepared 3d characters for animation
- Animate real time popups/motion graphics in 3d space to be used in Unity3D
- Assist in creating entertaining Unity3D transitions to and from game features
- Create high quality animations of characters or key art assets specifically for marketing promotions and sizzle reel videos
- Work with the art team to create dynamic and engaging particle systems in Unity’s Shuriken Particle Editor
REQUIREMENTS:
- A strong portfolio demonstrating understanding of animation principles as they apply to a variety of stylized 3D characters
- Art degree preferred or equivalent work experience
- 1-2 years prior experience in a related position
- Experience developing motion graphics elements for any type of media
PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:
- Experience in using the Unity3D engine (importing assets, animation editor, shuriken particle system)
- Competency in both Photoshop and After Effects
- Work experience in mobile or casino gaming industries
- Familiarity with VFX pipelines in games
- Knowledge of Unity 3D particle systems
Online portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work-related or personal projects outside of work-related activities
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The usual work environment is typical of an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with no material or weather-related hazards except those associated with travel.
This Job Description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing Company objectives. The description incorporates the most typical duties performed and covers only the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed. The inclusion of those duties would not alter the overall evaluation of this position.