1

Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

3D Character Art Lead

$153K - $230K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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 ...

Senior or Principal 3D Character Artist

Madison, WI ยท On-site +1

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Able to create systems and quality standards for a team of artists. Responsibilities: * Lead AAA-level character production and oversee the full pipeline from modeling and texturing to in-engine ...

Senior Technical Artist

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

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

Tampa, FL ยท 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.

Costume Character

Tampa, FL ยท 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.

Costume Character

Tampa, FL ยท 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.

Costume Character

Busch, AR ยท 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.

Costume Character

Tampa, FL ยท 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.

Character Designer- Ink

Vancouver, WA ยท On-site

$69.71/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Character Designer will help establish the look, tone, appeal, and design of characters that ... We are seeking artists with both unique artistic vision and strong technical skills who will help ...

Character Designer- Ink

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$69.71/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Character Designer will help establish the look, tone, appeal, and design of characters that ... We are seeking artists with both unique artistic vision and strong technical skills who will help ...

Character Designer- Ink

Los Gatos, CA ยท On-site

$69.71/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Character Designer will help establish the look, tone, appeal, and design of characters that ... We are seeking artists with both unique artistic vision and strong technical skills who will help ...

Character Designer- Ink

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$69.71/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

The Character Designer will help establish the look, tone, appeal, and design of characters that ... We are seeking artists with both unique artistic vision and strong technical skills who will help ...

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 Aug 13, 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 background in art, design, or related fields. Strong skills in digital sculpting, modeling software, and a compelling portfolio are often more important than formal education for 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.

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?

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.

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.

How much 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 proficiency in tools like ZBrush or Maya.

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.

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 August 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,531 per year, or $57.9 per hour.

Reallusion Character Creator 3D Artist

Epoch Games

Winston Salem, NC โ€ข On-site

$104K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

Company Description

Epoch Games is a volunteer-based, all-online, global game development team. The Co-Founders of Epoch Games were originally part of a Modding Team developing the total conversion Middle Earth Roleplaying Project (MERP) mod for the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/merp-middle-earth-roleplaying-project
Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world:
http://www.indiedb.com/games/the-lays-of-althas-sundered-order

The game is being developed using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4 (UE4):
https://www.unrealengine.com/

See our Benefits page for more information about what we can (and can't) offer Team Members at this time:
https://epochgames.co.uk/wordpress/benefits
NOTE: The address listed is our central office, but we are working as a completely remote development team at this time. No relocation is necessary.

Job Description

In this volunteer position we are looking for someone who is skilled with using Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3) for creating realistic 3D Character Body, Face and Hair Meshes and within the software. We would also expect you to be able to create your own 2D Textures as well as be able to import/export your CC3 Creations to Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4.

If necessary, we can provide Reallusion Packs or whatever else you'll need for the Job, as long as you have Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3) in any form.

These 3D Characters would be used in our game "The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order" (LoA:SO). If necessary, you can be provided with provided the necessary software for the work you'll be required.

Communication is key to a smooth and efficient pipeline. You must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with other team-members and not be afraid to ask should any problems arise. We are an English-speaking team, so English fluency is a must.

If you are comfortable with teaching, you may be called upon to aid the more junior members of the team in any relevant area.

Other duties includeย following team policies (given through team orientation as upon acceptance to the team) as well asย attending meetings through Slack (our instant message program that we use to communicate)

Qualifications

Minimum Skill Requirements:

  • Creating realistic Human Character Meshes and Textures using Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3)
  • Creating Human Hair sculpts using Hair Card and Alpha Planes using Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3)
  • Full Texturing ability (Diffuse, Normal, Displacement etc) using Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3)
  • Able to work effectively and accurately from pre-defined concept art and designs.
  • Able to work with and provide constructive criticism and feedback.
  • Communication and Team-collaboration skills.
  • A passion for modeling and a dedication to creating AAA quality games.

Required Software:

  • Epic Games' Unreal Engine 4: https://www.unrealengine.com/register
  • Reallusion's Character Creator 3 (CC3): https://www.reallusion.com/character-creator/
  • Adobe Photoshop, GIMP or similar for creating high-quality 2D Textures.

Minimum Hardware Requirements:

  • The ability to run Unreal Engine 4
  • The ability to run Character Creator 3 (CC3)
  • The disk space and Internet speeds to download (Git Pull) at least 40 GB of game files