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Character Design Artist Jobs in Texas (NOW HIRING)

Nintendo

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • PTO

Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with ... Produce boss, character, environment, and prop concept art in the form of thumbnails, sketches ...

SciPlay Games, LLC

Technical Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$75 - $95/hr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Proficient in UI Design and development in Unity. * Proficient in Unity animation systems and ... Animation - 2D character specific. * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3ds Max ...

New

SciPlay

Technical Artist

Austin, TX

$125K - $150K/yr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Proficient in UI Design and development in Unity * Proficient in Unity animation systems and ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

SciPlay Corporation

Senior Technical Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$80 - $100/hr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Proficient in UI Design and development in Unity* Proficient in Unity animation systems and ... Animation - 2D character specific* Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max)* C# ...

New

SciPlay

Technical Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Proficient in UI Design and development in Unity * Proficient in Unity animation systems and ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

Chase Oaks Church

Brand & Design Director

Plano, TX · On-site

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, Marketing, or related field ... Character - Being above reproach * Self-Leadership - Practicing rhythms that allow personal ...

Chase Oaks Church

Brand & Design Director

Plano, TX · On-site

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, Marketing, or related field ... Character - Being above reproach * Self-Leadership - Practicing rhythms that allow personal ...

Catface

Associate Concept Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$60K - $70K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

What We're Looking For Required: * 2-4 years of merchandise, consumer product, or character-based design experience. * A portfolio showing the full progression from research and ideation through ...

Catface

Associate Concept Artist

Austin, TX

$125K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

What We're Looking For Required: * 2-4 years of merchandise, consumer product, or character-based design experience. * A portfolio showing the full progression from research and ideation through ...

Catface

Associate Concept Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

What We're Looking For Required: * 2-4 years of merchandise, consumer product, or character-based design experience. * A portfolio showing the full progression from research and ideation through ...

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All JobsCharacter Design Artist JobsCharacter Design Artist Jobs in Texas

Character Design Artist information

See Texas salary details

$97.4K

$112.3K

$119.7K

How much do character design artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for character design artist in Texas is $112,293.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $112,700.00 and $118,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character design artist?

A Character Design Artist creates the visual appearance of characters for animation, video games, comics, and other media. They develop personalities, costumes, and expressions that align with the story and artistic direction. This role requires strong drawing skills, creativity, and an understanding of anatomy and design principles. Character Design Artists often collaborate with writers, animators, and directors to bring unique and memorable characters to life.

What are the typical daily responsibilities of a character design artist?

A Character Design Artist typically spends their day sketching and developing concepts, refining character turnarounds, and collaborating with art directors, animators, and writers to ensure designs align with the project's narrative. They may attend team meetings to pitch ideas or receive feedback, revise artwork based on input, and prepare detailed model sheets or style guides for production teams. The role often requires balancing creative exploration with meeting deadlines and design specifications. Working closely with other departments is common, making teamwork and adaptability crucial to the workflow.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the character design artist position, and why are they important?

To excel as a Character Design Artist, you need strong drawing skills, creativity, and a solid understanding of anatomy and color theory, often supported by a degree in art, illustration, or animation. Proficiency in industry-standard digital tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and 3D modeling software such as Blender or ZBrush is typically expected. Strong communication, teamwork, and the ability to accept and integrate feedback make an artist stand out in collaborative environments. These skills ensure that character concepts not only meet creative briefs but also seamlessly fit within broader visual storytelling projects.

How do you become a character design artist?

To become a character design artist, you typically need a strong foundation in art and illustration, often gained through a degree in fine arts, animation, or related fields. Developing a portfolio that showcases your character concepts, mastering digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, and gaining experience through internships or freelance work are important steps in building a career in this field.

How much does a character design artist make?

The average salary for a character design artist varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $40,000 to $80,000 per year. Freelance artists may charge hourly rates from $20 to $100 or more, depending on their skill level and project complexity. Proficiency in digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator and a strong portfolio can influence earning potential.

What do character design artists do?

Character design artists create visual representations of characters for various media such as video games, animation, and comics. They develop concepts, sketches, and detailed illustrations, often using digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator, to establish a character's appearance, personality, and style. Strong drawing skills, creativity, and understanding of anatomy and storytelling are essential for this role.

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Design Artist jobs in Texas?

The most popular types of Character Design Artist jobs in Texas are:

What are popular job titles related to Character Design Artist jobs in Texas?

For Character Design Artist jobs in Texas, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Design Artist jobs in Texas look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Design Artist jobs in Texas are:

What cities in Texas are hiring for Character Design Artist jobs?

Cities in Texas with the most Character Design Artist job openings:

Character Design Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Design Artist job openings in Texas as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $112,293 per year, or $54 per hour.

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Nintendo

Austin, TX • On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Contractor

Medical, PTO

This job post has expired 1 day ago. Applications are no longer accepted.

Nintendo rating

7.5

Company rating: 7.5 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

155th of 245 rated software companies

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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