1

Character Rigging Blender Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mentor junior rigging artists and contribute to team knowledge sharing Qualifications Requirements * 4-5 years of professional experience in character rigging * Proficiency in Maya; Blender is a plus

Mentor junior rigging artists and contribute to team knowledge sharing Qualifications Requirements * 4-5 years of professional experience in character rigging * Proficiency in Maya; Blender is a plus

The Technical Animator / Rigger will design, build, and maintain character and creature rigs for ... Experience with industry-standard 3D software (such as Maya, Blender, or equivalent) for rigging ...

Deep experience working in Unreal Engine, including Animation Blueprints, state machines, blending ... Familiarity with Control Rig and runtime rigging workflows in Unreal Engine EPIC JOB + EPIC ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Character Rigging Blender information

See salary details

$12

$18

$23

How much do character rigging blender jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for character rigging blender in the United States is $18.58, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $20.67 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is character rigging in Blender?

Character rigging in Blender is the process of creating a digital skeleton (rig) for a 3D model, which allows animators to move and pose the character in a realistic way. This involves setting up bones, joints, and control systems so the model can be manipulated easily for animation. Rigging is essential for bringing characters to life in films, games, and other media. Blender provides powerful rigging tools like Armature, Constraints, and Weight Painting to streamline this process. Good rigging ensures smooth, believable motion and makes animation more efficient.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a character rigging artist using Blender?

To thrive as a Character Rigging Artist in Blender, you need a solid understanding of 3D modeling, anatomy, and rigging principles, usually supported by a portfolio demonstrating rigged characters. Proficiency in Blender's rigging tools, weight painting, scripting (Python), and familiarity with industry-standard pipelines is essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication help you collaborate smoothly with animators and other team members. These skills ensure characters are technically sound, behave realistically in animation, and streamline production workflows.

What are some common challenges faced when rigging characters in Blender, and how can they be addressed?

One of the primary challenges in character rigging with Blender is ensuring that the rig is both flexible and stable for a wide range of animations, especially with complex characters. Dealing with deformation issues, such as unwanted mesh stretching or joint collapsing, often requires careful weight painting and the use of corrective shape keys. Collaboration with animators is crucial, as feedback helps identify problem areas early on. Staying organized by using naming conventions, proper hierarchy, and custom bone shapes can greatly improve workflow efficiency and minimize errors throughout a production pipeline.

What is the difference between Character Rigging Blender vs Character Animator?

AspectCharacter Rigging BlenderCharacter Animator
Primary FocusCreating and setting up character rigs for animationAnimating characters using rigs
Skills Required3D modeling, rigging, Blender proficiencyAnimation, timing, character performance
Tools UsedBlender, rigging add-onsAdobe Character Animator, After Effects
Work Environment3D animation studios, freelance2D/3D animation studios, online platforms

Character Rigging Blender specialists focus on creating and setting up character rigs within Blender, enabling smooth animation. In contrast, Character Animators use these rigs to bring characters to life through movement and performance. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and tools. Understanding these differences helps employers find the right talent for each stage of the animation process.

Infographic showing various Character Rigging Blender job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, 45% Full Time, 33% Part Time, and 11% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $38,646 per year, or $18.6 per hour.

Rigging Artist 1

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 10 days ago


Job description

About the Role
We're hiring an experienced Rigging Artist to develop advanced character rigs for human and quadruped characters. You'll work on facial systems, dynamic secondary motion rigs, skinning, and deformation — collaborating with animators and modelers to ensure rigs are production-ready.

Main Responsibilities
  • Develop anatomically accurate rigs for human and quadruped characters
  • Create facial rigs and blendshapes for expressions, lip sync, and animation
  • Perform advanced skinning for high-quality deformation and volume preservation
  • Build dynamic rigs for secondary motion (hair, tails, skirts, cloth)
  • Troubleshoot and resolve complex rigging and animation issues
  • Collaborate with animators, modelers, and other departments on rig requirements
  • Mentor junior rigging artists and contribute to team knowledge sharing
Qualifications Requirements
  • 4–5 years of professional experience in character rigging
  • Proficiency in Maya; Blender is a plus
  • Experience with facial rigging, blendshapes, and secondary motion systems
  • Intermediate knowledge of MEL and Python scripting
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Animation, or related field
  • Portfolio/showreel demonstrating facial rigs, dynamic setups, and skinning quality
Nice to Have
  • Experience with Unreal Engine or Unity rigging integration
  • Ability to build custom rigging tools via scripting
#J-18808-Ljbffr