ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Character Drawing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

Founded in 2009 and drawing on 30+ years' experience from our parent company in Japan, Side has ... As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in drawing, a keen sense of storytelling through design ... Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D ...

Skydance

Character Designer

Santa Monica, CA

$2.9K - $4.0K/wk

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in drawing, a keen sense of storytelling through design ... Create clear and expressive character turnarounds, pose sheets, and supplementary drawings in 2D ...

Concordia University

Art (Drawing) Adjunct

Seward, NE · On-site

ART (DRAWING) ADJUNCT College of Arts and Sciences Concordia University, Nebraska, an institution ... Demonstrate character qualities of enthusiasm, courtesy, flexibility, integrity, gratitude ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsCharacter Drawing Jobs

Character Drawing information

See salary details

$10

$19

$37

How much do character drawing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for character drawing in the United States is $19.08, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $24.28 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges character drawing artists face when working as part of a creative team?

Character drawing artists often encounter challenges such as balancing their unique artistic style with the project's established visual guidelines and meeting tight deadlines. Collaborating with writers, animators, and art directors requires clear communication to ensure the characters’ designs align with narrative and functional needs. Additionally, adapting to feedback and making iterative changes while maintaining high-quality work is a frequent part of the process. These challenges help artists grow their skills in flexibility, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.

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

To thrive as a Character Drawing Artist, you need strong foundational skills in figure drawing, anatomy, and visual storytelling, often supported by formal art education or a strong portfolio. Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Procreate is typically required, and knowledge of graphic tablets and animation software can be beneficial. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate and interpret feedback are essential soft skills in this field. These abilities ensure that artists can produce compelling, marketable characters that meet client or project specifications in various creative industries.

What is the difference between Character Drawing vs Character Illustration?

AspectCharacter DrawingCharacter Illustration
CredentialsTypically no formal certification, but strong drawing skills and understanding of anatomySimilar; often requires portfolio showcasing both drawing and illustrative skills
Work EnvironmentFreelance, studio, or personal projectsCommercial projects, publishing, advertising, or entertainment
Industry UsageUsed in concept art, character design, and personal artUsed in books, games, animation, and marketing
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding basic character creation and drawing techniquesLooking for detailed, polished character artwork for commercial use

While both character drawing and character illustration involve creating images of characters, character drawing focuses on the fundamental skills of sketching and anatomy, often for personal or conceptual purposes. Character illustration, on the other hand, emphasizes polished, detailed artwork intended for commercial or publication use. Both roles require strong artistic skills, but their applications and end goals differ.

What is character drawing?

Character drawing is the art of creating visual representations of fictional or real characters, often for use in animation, comics, video games, or illustration. It involves designing the appearance, posture, and expressions of a character to convey their personality and story. Artists use various techniques and styles, from traditional pencil and paper to digital tools, to bring characters to life. Strong fundamentals in anatomy, gesture, and imagination are essential for effective character drawing.
More about Character Drawing jobs
What states have the most Character Drawing jobs? States with the most job openings for Character Drawing jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Character Drawing jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Character Drawing jobs are:
Character Drawing jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Drawing job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $39,680 per year, or $19.1 per hour.
3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

side

Fort Lauderdale, FL • Remote

$123K - $130K/yr

Full-time

Posted 6 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.

Requirements

Experience:

    • 3+ years of experience as a Character Artist in the video game industry.
    • Demonstrated contribution to at least one shipped title on PC, console, mobile, or VR/AR.

Technical Skills:

    • Proficiency with ZBrush, Maya, 3ds Max, Substance Painter, Photoshop, and other industry-standard tools.
    • Strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, weight, and volume as they relate to character design and animation.
    • Experience with high- and low-poly modeling, texturing, and shading techniques.
    • Knowledge of proper topology, rigging, and skinning practices.

Artistic Skills:

    • Strong eye for detail, form, and style consistency.
    • Ability to adapt to and create a range of visual styles, from realistic to stylized.

Collaboration Skills:

    • Effective communication and teamwork abilities.
    • Ability to incorporate feedback and iterate effectively.

Passion for Gaming: Genuine enthusiasm for creating compelling characters and contributing to immersive game worlds.

Preferred Skills

  • Familiarity with Marvelous Designer for clothing design and simulation.
  • Experience with photogrammetry and procedural workflows.
  • Knowledge of Unreal Engine or Unity for integrating character assets into the game.

Note: Specific requirements may vary depending on project needs.