ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Character Development Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

About Side Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and ... As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ...

Kornah's Character Development Academy (KCDA)

Be Seen First

Program Facilitator

Washington, DC · On-site

$1.2K - $1.6K/mo

Kornah's Character Development Academy (KCDA) Work Location: District of Columbia Department of Corrections - Washington, D.C. Position Type: Contract Schedule: Monday - Thursday (9: 30AM - 11:00AM ...

Seaworldentertainment

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 ... Be flexible in work locations as placement will depend on business needs and career development ...

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre

Costume Character

Tempe, AZ · On-site

$15.15/hr

What you'll bring to the team Costume Character - Legoland Discovery Center Arizona Due to costume ... Growth and Development: Learn, grow, and take your career to new heights with endless opportunities ...

SeaWorld

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 ... Be flexible in work locations as placement will depend on business needs and career development ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCharacter Development Jobs

Character Development information

See salary details

$29K

$53.4K

$81K

How much do character development jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for character development in the United States is $53,418.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42,500.00 and $60,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is character design a good career?

Character development as a career involves creating and designing characters for entertainment media such as video games, animation, and comics. It requires artistic skills, knowledge of design software, and an understanding of storytelling. The field offers opportunities in various industries but can be competitive and often requires a strong portfolio and continuous skill development.

What jobs involve character design?

Jobs that involve character design include character artist, concept artist, and animation designer, primarily in industries like video games, film, and animation. These roles require skills in drawing, digital illustration, and familiarity with design software such as Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Professionals in this field often work closely with storyboards, character models, and story development teams.

What is character development in storytelling?

Character development refers to the process of creating and evolving characters in a story, making them complex, relatable, and dynamic. It involves establishing a character’s background, personality, motivations, and growth over the course of the narrative. Strong character development helps readers or viewers connect with the story, as characters face challenges and change in meaningful ways. Writers use character arcs, dialogue, and actions to reveal these changes and deepen the audience’s understanding of each character.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in character development within the entertainment industry?

Professionals in character development often face the challenge of balancing creative vision with audience expectations and project constraints. They must collaborate closely with writers, directors, and artists to ensure that characters are compelling, consistent, and evolve naturally within the story. Tight deadlines and frequent revisions are typical, requiring strong communication and adaptability skills. Additionally, staying attuned to cultural trends and sensitivities is crucial to creating relatable and impactful characters.

What does a character developer do?

A character developer creates and refines the personalities, backgrounds, and traits of fictional characters for media such as video games, animation, or film. They collaborate with writers, designers, and artists to ensure characters are consistent and compelling, often using storytelling and design tools. Strong creativity, understanding of narrative, and knowledge of character development techniques are essential for this role.

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

To thrive as a Character Development Specialist, you need expertise in psychology, education, and behavior management, often supported by a degree in education, counseling, or a related field. Familiarity with assessment tools, curriculum development software, and behavioral intervention systems is commonly required. Strong interpersonal skills, empathy, and the ability to motivate and mentor others are crucial soft skills for this role. These skills ensure effective guidance and positive growth in individuals, contributing to their overall personal and academic success.

What is the difference between Character Development vs Scriptwriter?

AspectCharacter DevelopmentScriptwriter
Primary FocusCreating and refining characters' personalities, backgrounds, and arcsWriting scripts, dialogues, and storylines for productions
Required SkillsCreativity, understanding of psychology, storytellingWriting, storytelling, script formatting
Work EnvironmentFilm, TV, video games, theaterFilm, TV, theater, digital media
Common UsagePart of the pre-production process, often collaborating with writers and directorsLeading the writing process for scripts and screenplays

While both roles involve storytelling, Character Development focuses on creating compelling characters, whereas Scriptwriters craft the entire script and dialogue. Understanding these differences helps clarify career paths in the entertainment industry.

How to get a career in character design?

To pursue a career in character design, develop strong drawing skills and a portfolio showcasing original character concepts. Gaining proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and understanding anatomy, storytelling, and visual style are essential. Many professionals also pursue degrees in art, animation, or related fields and seek internships or freelance opportunities to build experience.
More about Character Development jobs
What cities are hiring for Character Development jobs? Cities with the most Character Development job openings:
What states have the most Character Development jobs? States with the most job openings for Character Development jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Character Development jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Character Development jobs are:
Character Development jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Development job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,418 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

Side

Fort Lauderdale, FL

$115K - $121K/yr

Contractor

Re-posted 16 days ago

Job description

About Side

Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and creative solutions to many of the largest developers and studios around the world. Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has since grown to become a global force with 15+ studios in over a dozen countries across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia.

Our industry-leading services include game development, art production, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization QA, player support, community management, and datasets.

About This Opportunity

Please note, this listing is not for an immediate open position but for our Talent Pool for Co-Development Roles. By applying, you express interest in being considered for future project-based opportunities that align with your skills and experience.

These opportunities are contingent on client needs and project availability. As projects are initiated or client proposals are developed, we will review candidates from this pool and contact those who most closely align with the specific requirements of the co-development opportunity.

As a 3D Character Artist, you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring life and personality to our projects. This mid-level generalist role focuses on modeling, texturing, and optimizing character assets across a variety of styles for AAA-quality games on PC, console, mobile, and VR/AR platforms.

How We Keep You Engaged

We maintain strong relationships with our talent pool by providing regular updates, industry insights, and information on upcoming opportunities. We will check in to confirm your availability and interest.

Our hiring teams carefully vet and select top candidates who best meet project needs, ensuring that you are matched with the right opportunity when it becomes available.

Next Steps

If you are passionate about contributing to cutting-edge projects and want to be considered for future co-development opportunities, we encourage you to apply to this listing. While there may not be an immediate opening, your application ensures that you will be part of our ongoing talent review for upcoming roles.

Key Responsibilities

  • Create high-quality 3D character assets, including organic and hard surface elements, from concept to final game-ready models.
  • Collaborate with art leads, designers, and animators to ensure characters align with the project's artistic vision and technical requirements.
  • Develop textures and materials using industry-standard tools, ensuring assets are optimized for performance across platforms.
  • Work within established pipelines and workflows to maintain consistency and efficiency in asset creation.
  • Ensure proper topology, rigging, and skinning for characters to meet animation and gameplay requirements.
  • Troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges related to character development.
  • Actively participate in team critiques, offering and receiving feedback to refine assets.

Apply