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Character Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

COGSWELL COLLEGE LLC

Adjunct Faculty DAA

San Jose, CA · On-site

$3.0K - $4.5K/mo

Classes include: * Character Rigging - emphasis on character rigging techniques: joints, surface binding, articulation, forward and inverse kinematics, and hierarchical node structures

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game Maintain a ...

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game • Maintain ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA

Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years' experience working as a technical animator on shipped titles Solid understanding of object oriented code design in languages such as python and ...

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA

Strong knowledge of Maya character rigging. 3+ years' experience working as a technical animator on shipped titles Solid understanding of object oriented code design in languages such as python and ...

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All JobsCharacter Rigging JobsCharacter Rigging Jobs in California

Character Rigging information

See California salary details

$10

$18

$37

How much do character rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for character rigging in California is $18.83, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.27 and $23.94 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is character rigging?

Character rigging is the process of creating a digital skeleton for a character model so that it can be posed and animated in 3D software. Riggers add bones, joints, and control systems to a character, allowing animators to move and deform the model realistically. This is a crucial step in the animation pipeline for films, video games, and visual effects, enabling expressive and lifelike character movements.

What are character rigging jobs?

Character rigging is the process of creating an animated person, animal, or other moving object and adding features for movement to make it look more realistic or to match the flow of the storyline. In this role, you develop characters for cartoon shows, animated films, and video games. You create the framework of the character using rigging tools such as Maya or Motionbuilder and manipulate the character to make it jump, run, smile, or do other actions. Once the framework is set, you may add physical features, such as skins and facial shapes, to be used by the animator to develop the movement flow within the show or game.

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

To thrive as a Character Rigger, you need a solid grasp of anatomy, 3D modeling, and an understanding of animation principles, usually supported by a background in computer graphics or animation. Expertise in industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages such as Python or MEL is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills make a rigger stand out when collaborating with animators and modelers. These skills ensure character rigs are both functional and intuitive, resulting in smooth animation workflows and high-quality visual output.

What are some typical challenges faced in a character rigging role, and how can they be addressed?

Character rigging artists often encounter challenges such as creating rigs that are both flexible for animators and efficient for real-time rendering. Balancing complexity with usability, ensuring deformation looks natural, and maintaining performance in game engines are common hurdles. Collaboration with modelers and animators is essential to iterate on rigs quickly based on feedback. Staying updated with the latest rigging tools and scripting techniques can greatly help in overcoming these challenges and delivering high-quality rigs on tight production schedules.

What is the difference between Character Rigging vs 3D Modeler?

AspectCharacter Rigging3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating skeletons and controls for character animationModeling 3D objects and characters
Skills RequiredRigging techniques, anatomy, software like Maya or BlenderModeling, texturing, topology, software like Maya, Blender, 3ds Max
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, game development, VFXGame studios, film, animation, product visualization
CertificationsOften not mandatory but relevant courses in rigging and animationOften not mandatory but relevant in modeling and design courses

While both roles work closely in 3D production, Character Rigging specializes in creating the underlying structure for animation, whereas a 3D Modeler focuses on building the visual and geometric aspects of models. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right career path or job search focus.

What do character riggers do?

Character riggers create the skeletal structures and control systems that enable 3D characters to move and be animated. They use software like Maya or Blender to build rigs, ensuring characters can perform natural and complex motions for animation projects.
More about Character Rigging jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Rigging jobs in California?

The most popular types of Character Rigging jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Character Rigging jobs in California?

For Character Rigging jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Rigging jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Rigging jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Character Rigging jobs?

Cities in California with the most Character Rigging job openings:

Character Rigging jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Rigging job openings in California as of August 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 $39,160 per year, or $18.8 per hour.

Tutor and Teaching Assistant

COGSWELL COLLEGE LLC

San Jose, CA • On-site

$18.45 - $25/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 25 days ago

Job description

Position SummaryThe Tutor supports students primarily in Game Art/Design and Digital Arts and Animation courses, contributing to a creative, collaborative, and technically proficient learning environment. The role involves providing one-on-one and group tutoring sessions, offering feedback on assignments, helping students navigate tools used in game production and animation, and performing relevant administrative tasks.
Tutored courses include but are not limited to: Character Rigging, Environmental Art, Modeling, Level Design for Single Player Games, Senior Game Studio I & II, Full Game Pipeline and Production.
Key Responsibilities
  • Provide tutoring and technical guidance on 2D design, 3D modeling, rigging, texturing, level design, and production pipelines
  • Assist students with troubleshooting software (Windows required, Mac OS is a plus)
  • Maintain a professional and inclusive learning atmosphere that promotes collaboration and innovation
  • Contribute to the documentation and organizational needs of the tutoring program, perform tutoring-administrative duties as assigned
  • Other relevant tasks, as assigned

Qualifications
Education:
  • Open to all students and non-students at University of Silicon Valley
  • Maintain a 3.00 GPA (if current student)
  • Has taken the classes to be tutored
  • Has recommendation from instructors of relevant courses

Skills:
  • Strong foundation in digital art, game art, game design
  • Familiarity with industry-standard tools such as Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine, Unity, Substance, or equivalent. Illustrator, After Effects are not required but are pluses.
  • Informative tutoring with expert knowledge of tutored subjects
  • Maintaining a booking schedule, which is based on self-declared availability on at least 4 days/week, between 10hrs-20hrs/week
  • Maintaining regular and efficient communication with Tutoring Program Manager and tutored students

Desired Qualifications: All the above plus ability to tutor Character Rigging, Environmental Art, Level Design for Single Player Games, 2D Design & Animation, Math and English topics.
Working conditions
Tutoring work takes place on campus and virtually online. This tutoring position requires the use of writing materials and computer software.
Physical requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate verbally and actively listen. The employee frequently must sit for prolonged periods and use hands and arms for activities such as typing and other computer-related tasks.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities are subject to change at any time.
Non-benefit Position

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