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Animation Rigging Jobs in Los Angeles, CA (NOW HIRING)

Creative Expert - 3D/VFX

Culver City, CA

$142K - $263K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Retirement

... rigging, animation, simulation, real-time, or CAD Primary artistic capability in pen-and-tablet or pen-and-touch workflows Track record of inventing or adopting new techniques, tools, or workflows ...

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game Maintain a clear and consistent workflow under an established schedule Work closely to FX and Lighting artists ...

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game • Maintain a clear and consistent workflow under an established schedule • Work closely to FX and Lighting ...

Showing results 41-55

Animation Rigging information

See Los Angeles, CA salary details

$15

$28

$39

How much do animation rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for animation rigging in Los Angeles, CA is $28.03, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24.86 and $32.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animation rigging?

An Animation Rigging job involves creating the digital skeletons that allow characters and objects to move in animation and video games. Rigging artists design and implement the control systems, including joints, bones, and deformers, that animators use to bring models to life. They work closely with modelers and animators to ensure smooth movement and realistic deformations. Strong technical skills in 3D software and scripting are often required for this role.

What does an animation rigging artist do?

Animation Rigging artists spend their days designing and building digital skeletons and control systems that allow animators to create lifelike movement for characters and objects. You may work closely with modelers and animators to ensure rigs are user-friendly and optimized for the production pipeline, regularly troubleshooting or refining rigs based on animation feedback. Collaboration is a big part of the job, as you often interact with technical artists, animators, and supervisors to maintain the quality and efficiency of the rigging process. The role can involve balancing technical tasks with creative problem-solving, making it both challenging and rewarding for those passionate about animation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed for animation rigging?

To thrive in Animation Rigging, you need a solid understanding of anatomy, movement, and 3D animation principles, usually supported by experience in computer graphics or related fields. Proficiency with industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, or 3ds Max, as well as scripting languages such as Python or MEL, is commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, collaboration, and clear communication help riggers effectively integrate with animators and technical artists. These competencies are crucial for building flexible, efficient rigs that enable high-quality animation and seamless production workflows.

How to become an animation rigger?

To become an animation rigger, you 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 rigging tools like Maya or Blender and understanding of character anatomy and movement are essential, along with building a portfolio to showcase your skills. Gaining experience through internships or entry-level positions helps develop practical expertise in rigging workflows and industry standards.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA?

The most popular types of Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA?

For Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Animation Rigging jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:

What cities near Los Angeles, CA are hiring for Animation Rigging jobs?

Cities near Los Angeles, CA with the most Animation Rigging job openings:

Infographic showing various Animation Rigging job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 10% Internship, 56% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 19% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 81% In-person, and 19% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,309 per year, or $28 per hour.

Creative Expert - 3D/VFX

Apple

Culver City, CA

$142K - $263K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement

Re-posted 3 days ago


Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers


Job description

The people here at Apple don't just create products - they create the kind of wonder that's revolutionized entire industries. The diversity of those people and their ideas inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it. Are you up for the challenge?
Pro Workflow (PWF) team, within Apple's Hardware Engineering organization, joins creative domain experts with computer system architects to drive innovation and deliver astounding new features to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. From beginners learning the basics of digital creativity through professional facilities, PWF is dedicated to elevating and accelerating the creative capabilities of our customers by understanding how the most demanding creative customers use our products, and leveraging those insights to build better products for everyone.
The Pro Workflow team exemplifies Apple's position at the intersection of technology and the liberal arts. We look forward to your contributions to help shape the future of creativity.
Come join us!
Description
Collaborate with System Architects to identify creative use cases that are impacted by hardware performance.
Work individually and collaboratively on research and development of new creative capabilities for Mac, iPad, and iPhone.
Help establish and validate performance targets for future hardware.
Lead cross-functional efforts to improve performance and bring new features to Apple products.
Set creative and technical direction and mentor others as a senior voice within and beyond the team.
Stay current on emerging hardware, software and workflows in 3D, animation, and digital content creation.
Create presentation materials and regularly present status reports and project outcomes to peers and executive leadership.
Build technical relationships with key external developers and strategic customers.
Preferred Qualifications
Public practice as a teacher in academia, streaming, or publishing is good to have
Experience building an audience on social platforms
Experience as a Lead or Manager, guiding creative teams, setting direction, and developing others is a plus.
An attitude of continuous learning and expanding knowledge and capability in core expertise and adjacent areas
Ability to maintain and prioritize multiple projects across multi-year timelines.
Skilled at articulating creative and design needs in technical terms and tailoring information to fit the audience.
Comfortable engaging with third-party developers and customers.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum 3 years of industry experience
Compelling body of work demonstrating 3D capability in a creative or design discipline. This can be rooted in motion imaging, for example visual effects, animation, illustration, or design, architecture, fashion, fine art, or academic work
Fluent, hands-on command of 3D applications with expertise in more than one sub-discipline, for example modeling, sculpting, texturing, look development, lighting, shading, rigging, animation, simulation, real-time, or CAD
Primary artistic capability in pen-and-tablet or pen-and-touch workflows
Track record of inventing or adopting new techniques, tools, or workflows and bringing them into creative or design practice
Experience in debugging and resolving workflow issues independently, within a team, and as a beta tester generating actionable feedback.
Pay & Benefits
At Apple, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range. This provides the opportunity to progress as you grow and develop within a role. The base pay range for this role is between $142,300 and $263,300, and your base pay will depend on your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
Apple employees also have the opportunity to become an Apple shareholder through participation in Apple's discretionary employee stock programs. Apple employees are eligible for discretionary restricted stock unit awards, and can purchase Apple stock at a discount if voluntarily participating in Apple's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You'll also receive benefits including: Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, retirement benefits, a range of discounted products and free services, and for formal education related to advancing your career at Apple, reimbursement for certain educational expenses - including tuition. Additionally, this role might be eligible for discretionary bonuses or commission payments as well as relocation. Learn more about Apple Benefits
Note: Apple benefit, compensation and employee stock programs are subject to eligibility requirements and other terms of the applicable plan or program.

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976