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Character Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Incessantrain

Rigging Artist 1

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA · On-site

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 ...

Absurd Ventures

Character Art Lead

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

Experience with character rigging, skinning, or other downstream character production disciplines. * Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar clothing and garment simulation tools. * Experience ...

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

Absurd Ventures

Character Art Lead

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $185K/yr

Experience with character rigging, skinning, or other downstream character production disciplines. * Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar clothing and garment simulation tools. * Experience ...

New

Carlost Inc.

Account Manager

Burlingame, CA · On-site

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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Character Rigging information

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$10

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$37

How much do character rigging jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 14, 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:

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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.

Rigging Artist 1

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA • On-site

Incessantrain
See more jobs at Incessantrainexternal

Other

Posted 13 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
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