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Background Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

topsproducts

Junior Product Designer

Laguna Hills, CA · Hybrid

$24 - $29/hr

This is a hands-on, collaborative role ideal for a designer with an illustration background who is eager to grow within a fast-paced product design team. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: * Create ...

topsproducts

Junior Product Designer

Laguna Hills, CA · Hybrid

$24 - $29/hr

This is a hands-on, collaborative role ideal for a designer with an illustration background who is eager to grow within a fast-paced product design team. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: * Create ...

TOPS Products

Junior Product Designer

Laguna Hills, CA · On-site

$24 - $29/hr

This is a hands-on, collaborative role ideal for a designer with an illustration background who is eager to grow within a fast-paced product design team. Essential Duties & Responsibilities: * Create ...

Endless Edge LLC

Be Seen First

Graphic Designer (Local Applicants Only)

Franklin, TN · On-site

$48K - $63K/yr

Robust background in Adobe Illustrator. * Pre-press production experience preferred * Sign or large format production experience * CMS building and Wordpress * Social media creation & management

smartdept. inc.

Senior Graphic Designer

Denver, CO · On-site

$66K - $91K/yr

Produce illustrations and support visual storytelling across campaigns * Collaborate with internal ... Strong background in branding and working within structured brand guidelines * Experience ...

University of Idaho

User Experience UI Designer

Moscow, ID · On-site

$18/hr

Design custom illustrations, icons, and graphics using Adobe Illustrator to enhance user interfaces ... Background Check Statement Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates may be required ...

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All JobsBackground Illustrator Jobs

Background Illustrator information

See salary details

$32.5K

$59.3K

$96K

How much do background illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for background illustrator in the United States is $59,345.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38,500.00 and $68,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Background Illustrator vs Concept Artist?

AspectBackground IllustratorConcept Artist
Primary RoleCreates detailed backgrounds and environments for projectsDesigns characters, environments, and overall visual concepts
Skills & ToolsIllustration, painting, digital tools like PhotoshopSketching, digital painting, storytelling
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, filmGame studios, film, advertising
CredentialsArt degree or portfolio in illustrationArt or design background, portfolio of concept art

While both roles involve digital illustration skills, Background Illustrators focus on creating detailed backgrounds for visual projects, whereas Concept Artists develop overall visual ideas and character designs. The two roles often collaborate but serve different functions within creative teams.

What are some of the typical challenges faced by background illustrators when working on animated projects?

Background illustrators often need to balance creative vision with the practical demands of animation, such as maintaining consistency in style and perspective across multiple scenes. They frequently collaborate with art directors, animators, and layout artists to ensure their backgrounds support the storytelling and character action. Tight deadlines and changing project requirements can also present challenges, making adaptability and strong communication skills essential. Additionally, background illustrators must remain attentive to color theory and lighting to enhance mood and cohesion throughout the project.

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

To thrive as a Background Illustrator, you need strong drawing and painting skills, a solid grasp of color theory, perspective, and composition, often supported by a relevant art degree or portfolio. Proficiency with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration make someone stand out in this position. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling environments that enhance storytelling and align with the overall artistic vision of a project.

What are background illustrators?

Background illustrators are artists who create the visual environments and settings for animation, video games, films, and other visual media. They design and paint the scenery that appears behind the main characters and action, helping to establish the mood, atmosphere, and context of each scene. Their work is essential for immersing viewers in the story and bringing fictional worlds to life. Background illustrators often collaborate closely with art directors, storyboard artists, and animators to ensure a cohesive visual style.
More about Background Illustrator jobs
What cities are hiring for Background Illustrator jobs? Cities with the most Background Illustrator job openings:
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Background Illustrator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Background Illustrator job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 70% Full Time, 27% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $59,345 per year, or $28.5 per hour.
Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo of America Inc

Austin, TX • On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Contractor

Medical, PTO

Posted 27 days ago

Job description

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX Position includes: Paid weekly Health care benefits available Paid time-off provided Paid holidays observed Access to Nintendo discounts RETRO STUDIOS: Founded in 1998, Retro Studios is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd., and a powerhouse in game development. Working hand-in-hand with Nintendo, we craft award-winning titles for the company's cutting-edge platforms, blending innovation, artistry, and gameplay excellence. Our home base is Austin, Texas, a vibrant city known for its creative energy, live music, stunning natural scenery, and forward-thinking culture. With year-round sunshine and endless options for outdoor adventures, Austin offers the perfect backdrop for world-class developers to stay inspired, balanced, and at the top of their game. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES: Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of our games by working to establish consistent visuals for characters, environments, props, and effects, with an emphasis on boss characters. Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with design specifications to communicate gameplay properties, interactions and sequencing of boss characters. Adopt a broad range of styles from realistic to highly stylized based on goals and direction for a given project to produce concept art with an appropriate sense of color, drama, shape language, personality, and design. Take ownership of concept work for various game features while actively collaborating with other disciplines such as Design, Art, and Engineering to achieve high-quality, innovative concept art. Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches, breakdowns, reference sheets, paintings, and other digital imagery. Provide visual contextualization support for game design efforts at all stages. Perform research as necessary to support visual development. Work with Art Director and Leads to provide feedback and guidance to artists. Create storyboards, background illustrations, and promotional artwork. Provide and receive feedback professionally. *This job description outlines primary duties and requirements and is not intended to identify all tasks that may be performed; individuals occupying the position may be required to perform other duties. The company may modify job duties from time to time, either in practice or in writing. SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS: Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one complete product cycle shipping AAA title. Must present online portfolio with high-quality, varied examples of character and environment concept art. Excellent 2D drawing skills with a strong grasp of composition, color theory, perspective, lighting, environment and architecture. Examples of modern rendering process using 3D art and modeling tools (Maya, Blender). Mastery of fundamental artistic principles. Experience executing a wide range of artistic styles. Good communicator, self-motivated, driven to grow professionally. Undergraduate degree in art-related subject, completion of an intensive art training program, or equivalent professional experience. Retro Studios is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy, and respect for each other.
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