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Character Designer Jobs in Baltimore, MD (NOW HIRING)

Mondo

Designer

Owings Mills, MD · On-site

$25 - $32/hr

Designer Location-Type: Hybrid (2 Days A Week Onsite - in Owings Mills, MD 21117; 4 Days A Week Onsite for the First 2 Weeks ) Start Date Is: ASAP Duration: Contract (Through December 31, 2026 w ...

Crateandbarrel

Designer

Annapolis, MD · On-site

Crate and Barrel Designers are passionate about helping customers envision possibilities with the latest home design trends. They build meaningful, long-term relationships by using their knowledge to ...

Crateandbarrel

Designer

Annapolis, MD · On-site

Crate and Barrel Designers are passionate about helping customers envision possibilities with the latest home design trends. They build meaningful, long-term relationships by using their knowledge to ...

Summit Fire & Security

Designer

Hanover, MD

The Designer position responsible for operating with minimal supervision while completing project designs and submittals. Expected to be very familiar with SFS's quality documents, procedures, and ...

Summit Companies

Designer

Hanover, MD

The Designer position responsible for operating with minimal supervision while completing project designs and submittals. Expected to be very familiar with SFS's quality documents, procedures, and ...

Summit Fire & Security

Designer

Hanover, MD · On-site

$70K/yr

The Designer position responsible for operating with minimal supervision while completing project designs and submittals. Expected to be very familiar with SFS's quality documents, procedures, and ...

Rosendin Electric, Inc.

Designer II

Hanover, MD

Designer II is a mid-level designer responsible for creating marked drawings, model development, and other documents showing equipment and device layouts and branch circuiting for power, lighting ...

Pennoni

Utility Designer

Columbia, MD · On-site

$23 - $30/hr

We are hiring for an experienced CAD Technician to join our team on a full-time, direct basis as a Utility Designer at our office in Columbia, MD. This person will be expected to contribute primarily ...

Aquent

Digital Designer

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$30/hr

Are you a visionary designer eager to make a significant impact? This is your chance to shape compelling digital experiences, bringing creative concepts to life across various platforms. You'll be ...

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All JobsCharacter Designer JobsCharacter Designer Jobs in Baltimore, MD

Character Designer information

See Baltimore, MD salary details

$19

$31

$47

How much do character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in Baltimore, MD is $31.44, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $28.65 and $36.06 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character designer?

Character designers are artists who create the visual appearance, style, and personality of characters for animation, video games, comics, films, and other media. Their work involves conceptualizing and illustrating characters based on story requirements, often working closely with writers, directors, and animators. Character designers develop everything from facial expressions and costumes to body shapes and color schemes, ensuring each character is visually appealing and communicates the intended traits or emotions.

What does a character designer do?

As a character designer, you create the look and animation of a cartoon character in a film, TV show, or video game. Your responsibilities are to develop physical features, design costumes and clothes, pose characters, and collaborate with team members from concept to production. Your duties include working with mouth charts, expression sheets, shadow and color indications, and marketing artwork. You sketch, draw, illustrate, and animate by hand and through computer software. You also work with different drafts and copies and maintain artwork storage. To be successful in this field, you must be able to balance creativity with the needs and requirements of the project.

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

To thrive as a Character Designer, you need strong drawing and illustration skills, a deep understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character development, often supported by a degree in art or design. Proficiency with digital design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, and 3D modeling software like ZBrush is typically required. Creativity, strong communication, and the ability to accept feedback help designers collaborate effectively and bring unique characters to life. These skills are essential to create compelling, visually distinctive characters that resonate with audiences and fit seamlessly within projects.

What are some common challenges character designers face when collaborating with other departments during production?

Character Designers often collaborate closely with animators, modelers, and directors, which can present challenges such as aligning on the visual style, ensuring designs are animation-friendly, and accommodating technical limitations. Balancing creative vision with practical constraints—like simplifying details for animation or adapting designs based on feedback—requires strong communication and flexibility. Successful Character Designers are proactive in seeking input, open to revision, and skilled at translating character concepts into workable assets that serve the story and production pipeline.

What is the difference between Character Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectCharacter DesignerCharacter Artist
Primary FocusCreating original character concepts, designs, and visual stylesRendering and illustrating detailed character artwork based on designs
Skills & ToolsConcept art, illustration, creativity, design software (Photoshop, Illustrator)Digital painting, rendering, shading, software skills (Photoshop, Painter)
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation, film, advertisingGame studios, animation, film, freelance projects

While both roles involve working with characters, a Character Designer focuses on creating original character concepts and visual styles, whereas a Character Artist specializes in bringing those designs to life through detailed illustrations and rendering. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the industry.

How to get a job as a character designer?

To become a character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your drawing and conceptual skills, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, freelance work, or art courses can improve your chances, and understanding the specific style or genre of the industry you want to work in is beneficial.

What qualifications do I need to be a character designer?

To become a character designer, a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills and creativity is essential. A background in art, illustration, or animation, often supported by a degree in fine arts or related fields, is common. Proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and understanding of character anatomy and storytelling are also important.
More about Character Designer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD?

The most popular types of Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD are:

What are popular job titles related to Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD?

For Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Designer jobs in Baltimore, MD are:

What cities near Baltimore, MD are hiring for Character Designer jobs?

Cities near Baltimore, MD with the most Character Designer job openings:

Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer job openings in Baltimore, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, and 21% Temporary. Highlights an 74% In-person, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,398 per year, or $31.4 per hour.

Graphic Artist - Specialized in Cartoon & Character Design

Quality Business Engineering

Aberdeen, MD • On-site

$136K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 days ago

Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
About QBE, LLC
QBE, LLC is a mission-focused technology and security solutions provider supporting defense and federal customers worldwide. We deliver high-impact capabilities where precision, accountability, and technical excellence directly support national-level objectives.
#qf #qg
QBE is seeking a Graphic Artist - Specialized in Cartoon & Character Design to support the IEW&S contract.
Responsibilities
Candidate shall provide specialized cartoon illustration and character design support to enhance visual storytelling for CPE IEW&S communication initiatives. Candidate shall demonstrate proficiency in digital illustration software and collaborate closely with public affairs, multimedia designers, and print production staff to ensure creative alignment and message clarity. Candidate's typical associated tasks include:
  • Develop original cartoon illustrations, character designs, and comic-style graphics to support public-facing and internal communication products across print and digital media.
  • Translate complex technical or operational content into engaging cartoon visuals that simplify messaging and increase audience comprehension.
  • Collaborate with the public affairs team and senior creatives to conceptualize cartoon-based campaigns, storyboards, and visual themes aligned with mission objectives.
  • Prepare artwork for integration into larger multimedia projects, including videos, infographics, social media content, and educational materials.
  • Ensure all cartoon-based products adhere to Army and CPE IEW&S branding, security, and communication guidelines while maintaining stylistic consistency across deliverables.

Requirements
  • Bachelor's degree - computer graphics, animation, fine arts or a related field
  • Minimum four years' (4) experience in the field of animation and design relevant experience required
  • OR Associates degree in the field of computer graphics, animation, fine arts or a related field and minimum seven (7) experience in the field of animation and design.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with team and other stakeholders

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
QBE is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender-identity and/or expression, age, disability, Veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, or related medical conditions), marital status, neurodivergence, ethnicity, ancestry, caste, military/uniformed service-member status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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