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Background Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Kids' Orchestra

Teaching Artist

Baton Rouge, LA

$50 - $60/hr

Teaching Artist Kids' Orchestra - Baton Rouge, LA POSITION SUMMARY Kids' Orchestra is a year-round ... Background Check and Child Abuse Prevention Training are required as a condition of employment Kids ...

Kids' Orchestra

Teaching Artist

Baton Rouge, LA · On-site

$50 - $60/hr

DESCRIPTION Teaching Artist Kids' Orchestra - Baton Rouge, LA POSITION SUMMARY Kids' Orchestra is a ... Background Check and Child Abuse Prevention Training are required as a condition of employment Kids ...

Colby College

Teaching Artist

Waterville, ME · On-site

A strong artistic background combined with the ability to translate that into effective and engaging lessons for different age groups. * Proficient with a variety of art media and techniques that are ...

Colby College

Teaching Artist

Waterville, ME

A strong artistic background combined with the ability to translate that into effective and engaging lessons for different age groups. * Proficient with a variety of art media and techniques that are ...

Colby

Teaching Artist

Waterville, ME

A strong artistic background combined with the ability to translate that into effective and engaging lessons for different age groups. * Proficient with a variety of art media and techniques that are ...

Arrow International, Inc

Senior Artist

$130K - $155K/yr

The ideal candidate is a highly versatile game artist with experience creating and implementing ... Gaming or casino-related knowledge or background. * Knowledge of animation principles. Usage of ...

Arrow International, Inc.

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL

$80 - $120K/hr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography ... Gaming or casino-related knowledge or background. * Knowledge of animation principles. Usage of ...

Udio

Head of Artist Partnerships

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$160K - $350K/yr

Background working with emerging technologies in music or creative tools. Why Join Us * You will define and lead how artists engage with Udio at a pivotal moment in the company's growth. * You'll ...

A.Harod & Associates

Graphic Artist

Jacksonville, FL · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

Graphic Artist A. Harold and Associates, LLC (AHA), is seeking qualified candidates for a position ... Offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment background ...

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Background Artist information

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How much do background artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for background artist in the United States is $24.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a background artist?

Background artists, also known as background painters or environment artists, are professionals who create the scenery, landscapes, and environments seen behind the main subjects in animated films, television shows, video games, and illustrations. Their work helps set the mood, establish the setting, and support the storytelling by providing detailed and visually appealing backgrounds. Background artists collaborate closely with other members of the art and animation team to ensure consistency in style and vision throughout the project.

How do background artists typically collaborate with other members of the animation team during a production?

Background artists work closely with art directors, layout artists, and animators to ensure the visual environment supports the story and character actions. They often attend team meetings to review storyboards and receive feedback, making adjustments to maintain consistency in style and mood. Effective communication and flexibility are key, as background artists may need to revise their work to align with changes in direction or animation requirements. This collaborative process helps create immersive settings that enhance the overall animation project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a background artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Background Artist, you need strong artistic ability in drawing, painting, and composition, usually supported by a portfolio and relevant art or design education. Familiarity with digital illustration software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and industry-standard tools like Toon Boom or Blender is often necessary. Attention to detail, creativity, and effective collaboration are vital soft skills for producing visually cohesive environments. These skills ensure that backgrounds enhance storytelling and maintain visual consistency in animation, games, or film productions.

What is the difference between Background Artist vs Concept Artist?

AspectBackground ArtistConcept Artist
Required CredentialsArt degree or equivalent, portfolioArt degree or equivalent, portfolio
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, animation studiosVideo game, film, animation studios
Industry UsageCreates backgrounds for scenesDesigns characters, environments, ideas
Common Search IntentBackground design, scene creationCharacter and environment concepts

Background Artists focus on creating detailed backgrounds and environments for scenes in animation, film, and TV. Concept Artists develop initial designs and visual ideas for characters, settings, and objects. While both roles require strong artistic skills and similar credentials, Background Artists specialize in scene backgrounds, whereas Concept Artists work on conceptualizing the overall look and feel of projects.

How much do background artists make?

Background artists in the entertainment industry typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and project scope. Entry-level artists may start lower, while experienced professionals or those working on major productions can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by freelance work or overtime. Skills in digital painting, animation software, and a strong portfolio can influence earning potential.

How to get hired as a background artist?

To get hired as a background artist, build a strong portfolio showcasing your environment and scene work, and gain proficiency in tools like Photoshop, SketchUp, or Blender. Relevant experience, a good understanding of perspective and color, and networking within the industry can improve your chances of employment.
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Background Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Background Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 69% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,263 per year, or $24.6 per hour.

Senior Character Artist

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

Santa Monica, CA

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

This is a hybrid / onsite position.

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to join our team in creating the next generation of award-winning story telling! We are looking for an artist who can help create characters, creatures AND develop pipelines that help streamline and push boundaries to create compelling characters that fit seamlessly within the narrative-driven worlds we build. By working alongside other departments and disciplines to inform, inspire, collaborate and develop artistic solutions to technical obstacles, you'll help ensure our character pipeline is at the forefront of AAA development.

What you will do:

  • Work with artists, technical artists, and engineers to design, implement and maintain new workflows that will help streamline and enhance our tools, shaders, and processes
  • Use provided concept art and references to create highly detailed character and creature models
  • Create high poly models, UVs, in game topology and textures to ensure high quality in game characters that work within our technical constraints, while also looking for areas to develop and push past our current boundaries
  • 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 to create characters that meet artistic and technical requirements
  • Provide direction to character artists for aesthetic and technical considerations
  • Work closely with the Tool and Engine Team to develop new or improve upon old techniques to improve character model quality
  • Work closely with Leads, Principals and Directors to keep quality and style consistent across all characters
  • Help document new and existing pipelines to streamline processes for internal and external artists
  • Act as a power user to evaluate and demo new software and tools from 3rd party developers for the character pipeline

What skills will you use:

  • Highly skilled at working with and defining standards for PBR materials, topology, and in game character pipelines
  • Experience developing shaders with technical artists and programmers
  • Intermediate knowledge of python scripting, not required, but a plus
  • Highly skilled at sculpting, modeling, texturing, shading characters and assets for games
  • High level knowledge of hair curve and card creation for next gen games
  • Keen eye to form, lighting, colors and composition
  • Very strong portfolio showing high quality characters
  • At least 5 years of experience as a character artist, working on at least one AAA title

#LI-AB1

At SIE, working with our partners, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the individual base pay range may vary based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for benefit offerings that include medical, dental, and vision. Click hereto learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below, this is an hourly rate.
$69.09-$86.35 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

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