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Animation Rigger Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

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 ...

Create facial rigs and blendshapes for expressions, lip sync, and animation * Perform advanced ... Troubleshoot and resolve complex rigging and animation issues * Collaborate with animators ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

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 ...

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 ...

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

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 ...

Senior Robot Animator

San Mateo, CA

$120K - $137K/yr

This is an animation-first role focused on the computer graphics side of motion - rigging, keyframe animation, body mechanics, and the editing and retargeting of captured data. Strong candidates pair ...

Senior Robot Animator

San Mateo, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $300K/yr

This is an animation-first role focused on the computer graphics side of motion - rigging, keyframe animation, body mechanics, and the editing and retargeting of captured data. Strong candidates pair ...

Experience structuring & maintaining animation processes such as rigging, or prototyping. * Character Performance experience. * Effectively tell the story in a meaningful way through vivid and ...

Animation Systems Programmer

Larkspur, CA ยท On-site

$167K - $245K/yr

Experience with rigging systems, animation state machines, low-level animation systems, physics-based, procedural, and/or IK animation systems * Experience with multi-threaded programming and system ...

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Animation Rigger information

See California salary details

$13

$25

$36

How much do animation rigger jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigger in California is $25.68, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.79 and $29.42 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an animation rigger do?

An Animation Rigger creates the skeletal structures that animators use to bring characters and objects to life in movies, games, and other media. They design and implement control systems for movement, ensuring realistic and flexible animation. Riggers work closely with animators, modelers, and technical artists to ensure characters move naturally and efficiently. They use software like Maya, Blender, or Houdini to build rigs that allow animators to manipulate models with ease.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be an animation rigger?

To thrive as an Animation Rigger, you need strong knowledge of anatomy, movement, and 3D animation fundamentals, often backed by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya or Blender, and familiarity with scripting languages like Python or MEL, are typically important; some studios may value certifications in these tools. Attention to detail, problem-solving, and effective communication enable collaboration with animators and modelers to deliver high-quality rigs. These competencies help ensure that digital characters move realistically and that production pipelines run efficiently.

How to become an animation rigger?

To become an animation rigger, individuals typically need a strong foundation in 3D modeling, rigging, and animation, often gained through a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, animation, or a related field. Proficiency in industry-standard software such as Maya or Blender and understanding of character anatomy and movement are essential, along with building a portfolio to showcase rigging skills.

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

The top searched job categories for Animation Rigger jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various Animation Rigger job openings in California as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 8% Internship, 64% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 12% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 96% In-person, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,405 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Technical Animator

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

Jam City Inc
PC Gamesย โ€ขย 501 - 1,000 employees

$90K - $110K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 23 days ago


Job description

As a leading mobile games developer, Jam City is looking to โ€œlevel upโ€ our talent. Weโ€™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 โ€” $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 worldโ€™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 playersโ€™ lives. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with a global network of studios and talent. For more information, please visit www.jamcity.com.

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