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Animation Rigger Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. * Self-motivated, an ... Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 salary per year. CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN: - Company news and ...

New

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. * Self-motivated, an ... Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 salary per year. CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN: - Company news and ...

New

Jam City

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. * Self-motivated, an ... Pay Range: $90,000 -- $110,000 salary per year. CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN: - Company news and ...

New

2K Games

Senior Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. A love ... to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit ...

2K Games

Senior Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$90K - $135K/yr

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. A love ... to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation or benefit ...

Roblox

3D Animator (Short Term)

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$9.1K - $11K/mo

... quality facial rigging/expression work * Expert-level skills in Autodesk Maya for animation ... Monthly Salary Range $9,103-$11,152 USD Roles that are based in an office are onsite Tuesday ...

ARTHREX

Technical Artist III- UI/UX (REMOTE)

OR · Remote

$89K - $170K/yr

Salary Minimum: $89,500 Salary Maximum: $170,000.00 Main Objective : Assists in the development of ... Including incorporating models, animations, VFX, graphics, audio, video clips and other graphic ...

Kurppa Hosk

Motion Designer

Chicago, IL · On-site

Experience with basic character animation or rigging. * Familiarity with Cinema 4D, Blender, or ... What we offer At Eidra/Kurppa Hosk in the United States, we offer a competitive salary package ...

MARKETSCALE LLC

3D Artist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

Rigging * Animation * Editing Requirements: * 3-5 years in 3D design and animation * Proficiencies ... The 3D Artist position is a full-time role, with competitive salary, full employee medical benefits ...

MARKETSCALE LLC

3D Artist

Dallas, TX · On-site

$50K - $65K/yr

Rigging * Animation * Editing Requirements: * 3-5 years in 3D design and animation * Proficiencies ... The 3D Artist position is a full-time role, with competitive salary, full employee medical benefits ...

Jobgether

Your work will span modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, optimization, and asset integration ... Competitive salary. * Opportunity to work on highly detailed aircraft and vehicle assets within an ...

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Animation Rigger Salary information

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How much do animation rigger salary jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigger salary in the United States is $26.02, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.08 and $29.81 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the average salary of an animation rigger?

The average salary of an animation rigger varies depending on factors like experience, location, and the studio. In the United States, animation riggers typically earn between $50,000 and $90,000 per year, with more experienced professionals and those working at major studios earning higher salaries. Entry-level riggers may start at a lower range, while senior riggers or supervisors can earn significantly more. Freelance riggers may have different earnings depending on the projects and clients they work with.

What are some common challenges faced by animation riggers in their daily work?

Animation riggers often encounter challenges such as balancing artistic requirements with technical constraints, ensuring rigs are user-friendly for animators, and troubleshooting unexpected deformations or performance issues within complex character models. Collaboration with modelers and animators is essential, as riggers must adapt rigs to accommodate feedback and evolving project needs. Staying updated with evolving software and rigging techniques is also crucial to maintain efficiency and quality.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an animation rigger, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Animation Rigger, you need a solid understanding of anatomy, kinematics, and 3D modeling principles, along with a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Proficiency in software such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages like Python or MEL is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective teamwork skills help riggers collaborate closely with animators and technical artists. These skills ensure the creation of flexible, efficient rigs that enable smooth character animation and enhance production workflows.

What is the difference between Animation Rigger Salary vs Character Animator Salary?

AspectAnimation Rigger SalaryCharacter Animator Salary
Average Annual Salary$60,000 - $85,000$55,000 - $80,000
Required Skills & Certifications3D rigging, software proficiency (Maya, Blender), technical skillsAnimation, storytelling, software proficiency (Maya, After Effects)
Work EnvironmentVFX studios, game development, animation companiesAnimation studios, game studios, film production

While both Animation Riggers and Character Animators work closely in the animation industry, riggers focus on creating the skeletal structures that enable characters to move, whereas animators bring characters to life through movement. Salary differences are generally modest, reflecting overlapping skills but distinct roles within the production pipeline.

Is being an animation rigger a good career?

Animation riggers are responsible for creating the skeletal structures that allow characters and objects to move realistically in animation and visual effects. The role requires skills in 3D software like Maya or Blender and offers opportunities in film, gaming, and animation industries, with salaries varying based on experience and location. It can be a stable career path for those with technical aptitude and a passion for animation production.

What do animation riggers do in animation?

Animation riggers create and set up digital skeletons and control systems that allow characters and objects to move naturally. They work with 3D modeling software and ensure that rigs are functional for animators to produce realistic or stylized movements. Rigging requires knowledge of anatomy, scripting, and technical skills to develop efficient and flexible rigs.
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What states have the most Animation Rigger Salary jobs?

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What job categories do people searching Animation Rigger Salary jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Rigger Salary jobs are:

Animation Rigger Salary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animation Rigger Salary job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $54,114 per year, or $26 per hour.

Technical Animator

Jam City

San Francisco, CA

$90K - $110K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to "level up" our talent. We're on the hunt for innovators who consider themselves dynamic, collaborative and thrive in a fast-paced environment. 
 
PERKS & BENEFITS
Unlimited Vacation, Paid Sick Days, Kin Care & Holidays*
100% Covered Medical and Company-Sponsored Dental & Vision (Plans Vary)*
Life Insurance, 401k, Flexible Spending Accounts, & More*
Wellness Activities & Programs
12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave*
Happy Hours
Company Events
*Only applies to full-time positions.

We are currently looking for a talented Technical Animator to join our tightly knit group of artists, animators and tech artists! The ideal candidate will have experience in assisting animation teams with technical solutions and animating . You will work alongside our world-class animation team to create intuitive rigs and visually stunning animations for our upcoming and live games!


**In order to be considered, you MUST provide us with a Demo Reel with examples of your most rigging and animation work. Along with your reel, you should provide a shot breakdown with an explanation of responsibilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Rig characters, creatures and props that adhere to all the animation needs.

  • Export, import and assemble animations in Unity.

  • Create State Machine and Blend Trees in Unity.

  • Augment and maintain the animation pipeline.

  • Propose or create tools to automate the animation pipeline.  

  • Assist the animation team with high quality animation. This includes short loops, locomotion cycles, and full cinematics with camera and character animations.

  • Collaborate with the Lead Animator to refine and maintain the game's animation style and feel.

  • Embellish story scenes with high quality FX using particles or shaders in Unity. 

  • Setup and maintain cloth simulation pipelines.

  • Able to maintain clean and organized work files.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • A minimum of 5 years of experience rigging characters and props using Maya.

  • A minimum of 3 years of experience animating characters using Maya.

  • Master of Unity, with emphasis on anything animation and rigging related. 

  • Self-motivated, an excellent communicator and a team player. Go to great lengths to create outstanding work rather than settling for bare minimum.

  • Excellent understanding of human and animal anatomy.

  • Skilled in 3D character animation for bipedal humanoids, creatures, and organic forms.

  • Expertly apply animation principles to in-game animation: timing, acting, & body mechanics.

  • Experience with Unity particle systems. 

  • Proven problem-solving and prototyping ability, collaborating within the animation team and across adjacent teams.

  • Excellent grasp of the English language.

  • Able to be onsite 5x a week.
NICE TO HAVE

  • Have shipped AAA and/or mobile games as a technical animator, animator, rigger or tech artist.

  • Experience in creating animated shaders.

  • Film animation experience.

  • A passion for games!

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation for this role.  The range listed is just one component of Jam City's total compensation package for employees, which may also include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, certifications, location, business needs, or market demands. This range is based on a full-time position. This range may be modified in the future. In addition, Jam City provides a variety of benefits to employees, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan, life, disability, and accident insurance.  Pay Range: $90,000 - $110,000 salary per year.

CHECK OUT LIFE AS A JAM CITIZEN:
- Company news and events on our LinkedIn
- Company Blog
- Employee Feedback on our Comparably page
- Find videos on our teams and games on our Youtube
 
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION
We believe in creating games that unite people across the world and that showcase our commitment to providing an environment that is both inclusive and diverse for our players and employees. We strive to create a workforce that is reflective of our global player community as we know that we are stronger and better when we play together. To help promote an inclusive culture, we celebrate the visible and invisible diversity of our Jam Citizens through initiatives including Employee Resource Groups, cultural events, trainings, speaker series, and more. 
 
Jam City is an equal opportunity employer. We enthusiastically accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, religion, ethnicity, marital, or domestic partnerships status, disability, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, veteran status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, or any other classification protected by federal, state, and local laws. Our management is committed to following this policy with respect to hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, recruiting, pay, and other forms of compensation, training, and general treatment during employment.
 
ABOUT JAM CITY
Jam City is a leading entertainment studio with a proven track record of creating some of the world's most beloved casual puzzle and story-driven mobile games. As the creative force behind fan-favorite, award-winning titles such as Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, Cookie Jam and Panda Pop, Jam City develops engaging and dynamic games that become an enduring part of our players' lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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