1

Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

3D Character Art Lead

$153K - $230K/yr

As a leader for the character art team, you'll demonstrate a balance of artistic expertise with a player-first mindset, stretching beyond your role as you collaborate with a passionate, cross ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC

$123K - $147K/yr

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters - from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters - from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters - from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

AGBO is looking for a Technical Artist, Character to drive the technical quality and pipeline integrity of our characters - from high-resolution sculpts through fully rigged, characters and NPCs. You ...

Apply now and lead our character art team as the Lead Character Artist with Absurd Ventures. The ... base pay range for this position is $145,000 to $180,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on ...

Senior Technical Artist

Cary, NC · On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

ART What We Do Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire. What You'll Do Epic is looking for a ...

Perform as Costume Character, Character Escort, and/or Puppeteer both in park and out-of-park as ... Previous experience in the fields of dance, theater, athletics, or other performance arts preferred.

Costume Character

Busch, AR · On-site

$15.50/hr

Perform as Costume Character, Character Escort, and/or Puppeteer both in park and out-of-park as ... Previous experience in the fields of dance, theater, athletics, or other performance arts preferred.

Showing results 21-40

Character Artist information

See salary details

$104.5K

$120.5K

$128.5K

How much do character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for character artist in the United States is $120,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Do you need a degree to be a character artist?

A degree is not strictly required to become a character artist, but many employers prefer candidates with a formal education in art, design, or related fields. Strong skills in digital sculpting, modeling, and proficiency with tools like ZBrush or Blender are often more important than formal credentials. Building a portfolio and gaining practical experience can be more critical for success in this role.

What is the difference between Character Artist vs 3D Modeler?

AspectCharacter Artist3D Modeler
Required SkillsConcept art, anatomy, texturing, riggingModeling, topology, UV mapping
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation, filmGame studios, VFX, product design
Common Industry UsageCreating detailed characters for games/filmsModeling various objects, including characters

While both roles involve 3D modeling, a Character Artist specializes in designing and creating detailed character models, focusing on anatomy, textures, and character-specific features. A 3D Modeler has a broader scope, modeling a variety of objects, including characters, environments, and props. The Character Artist often works closely with concept artists and animators to bring characters to life, whereas the 3D Modeler may work across multiple asset types. Both roles require strong modeling skills, but the Character Artist emphasizes character-specific artistry and detail.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

For a Character Artist, earning $300,000 annually is uncommon and typically requires senior-level experience, specialization in high-demand areas like AAA game development or film, and often involves working in leadership or supervisory roles. High salaries may also be achieved through freelance work, consulting, or working at large studios with profit-sharing or bonuses, but such compensation levels are rare in the industry.

How does a Character Artist typically collaborate with other departments during a game development project?

Character Artists work closely with concept artists, animators, and riggers to bring characters to life in a game. They often start by interpreting concept art, then create 3D models and textures, ensuring their designs align with the game's visual style. Regular feedback sessions with the art director and technical artists help ensure that character assets are optimized for performance and meet project requirements. Effective communication and flexibility are key, as Character Artists often need to make adjustments based on input from other teams.

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

To thrive as a Character Artist, you need strong artistic fundamentals in anatomy, form, and color, often backed by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Expertise in industry-standard 3D modeling and sculpting software like ZBrush, Maya, and Substance Painter, along with familiarity with game engines, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective collaboration are the standout soft skills for this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing visually compelling, technically sound characters that enhance the overall quality of games or animation projects.

How much money do character artists make?

Character artists typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level artists may start lower, while experienced professionals working in gaming or film can earn higher salaries, especially with advanced skills in software like ZBrush or Maya.

What Is a Character Artist?

A character artist is part of the team that designs animated characters, primarily in the video game industry. As a character artist, you work closely with the art director and the lead character artist. Your job duties are to create 2D illustrations and 3D models based on sketches you receive from the concept artist. As you create each iteration of a character, you present your designs to the rest of the team for feedback, then make tweaks and improvements. Finally, you enhance the 3D computer model with definition, weight, color, shading, and texture. These duties may be divided up between different artists, as 3D and 2D animation require very different skills.

What is a Character Artist?

A Character Artist is a professional who specializes in designing, modeling, and texturing characters for video games, movies, animations, and other digital media. They work closely with concept artists and animators to bring creative visions to life, ensuring that characters are visually appealing and suitable for production needs. Character Artists typically use 3D modeling software, sculpting tools, and digital painting programs to create detailed and expressive characters.

How to work as a character artist?

To work as a character artist, develop strong skills in 3D modeling, sculpting, and texturing using tools like Blender, Maya, or ZBrush. Build a portfolio showcasing your character designs, gain experience through internships or freelance projects, and stay updated on industry trends and software updates. A relevant degree or certification in art, animation, or related fields can also enhance your prospects.
What cities are hiring for Character Artist jobs? Cities with the most Character Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Character Artist jobs? The most popular types of Character Artist jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Character Artist jobs? The top employers for Character Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Character Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Character Artist jobs include:
What are popular job titles related to Character Artist jobs? For Character Artist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Character Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,531 per year, or $57.9 per hour.

$153K - $230K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Are you driven to create games that engage players in a vibrant community? Would you like to contribute to a visually stunning world where art not only captivates but reinforces the mission of the game? Do you have a passion for how 3D character art enhances gameplay clarity, supporting players in making split-second decisions, and how character design can ignite both fandom and strategic depth? Join us at teamLFG!
As the 3D Character Art Lead at teamLFG, you will guide and help create art with the team from pre-production to production and beyond on our innovative new IP!
Your leadership will shape memorable characters that uphold gameplay fairness and clarity. You'll mentor your team with your extensive experience and keen eye for detail, ensuring every art decision enhances the gameplay space. Your efforts will exhilarate players and elevate the setting and tone for a new standard in PlayStation games.
As a leader for the character art team, you'll demonstrate a balance of artistic expertise with a player-first mindset, stretching beyond your role as you collaborate with a passionate, cross-discipline team dedicated to having a positive impact on players as we bring this new world to life.
We seek candidates who appreciate being part of a cohesive and supportive team with a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and perspectives.
Responsibilities:
• Lead 3D character art and coordinate work with a multidisciplinary team accountable for character-building, including but not limited to narrative and design
• Mentor and inspire a talented team of artists through all phases of production
• Foster a safe culture for growth, feedback and coaching to encourage strong creative debate
• Create strong processes and scalable art workflows that force multiply the team's efforts and define a high art quality bar, internally and externally with partner studios
• Inspire and motivate the team with craft and process advisement
• Embrace "we" culture in addition to being an outstanding collaborator and communicator
• Develop internal and external style guides and workflows, and manage teams through creation of game assets
• Be accountable to the art director visual goals and directions
Required Skills:
• Deep understanding of the character art decisions that matter to competitive players in action or fighting games
• Proven experience in early AAA game development leadership role(s)
• Experience in leading art teams that include but not limited to 3D character art, character customization, NPC
• Demonstrated skills and deep understanding of stylized art and style adaptability
• Expert knowledge in Maya, Blender or Max, Substance
• Expert knowledge in Unreal Engine
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving capability with high attention to detail
• Strategic and critical thinking skills with a proactive, investigative mindset
• Help created or established character customization in Unreal and scaled content with outsourcing companies
Nice-to-have Skills:
• Platformer genre development experience
• Experience working on a game with a high angle isometric camera perspective
• Experience leading multiple teams on a live game ("game as a service")
At SIE, 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 base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
This is a flexible role that can be remote, with varying pay ranges based on geographic location. For example, if you are based out of Seattle, the estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$153,000-$230,000 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 our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.