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Character Rigging Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Bayside Church

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA

... and rigging practices. * Establish and maintain standards for system installation, cabling ... Model Christ-like character and servant leadership on and off the clock. * Steward church resources ...

New

BAYSIDE CHURCH

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA · On-site

... and rigging practices. * Establish and maintain standards for system installation, cabling ... Model Christ-like character and servant leadership on and off the clock. * Steward church resources ...

Bayside Church

Systems Engineer

Roseville, CA

... and rigging practices. * Establish and maintain standards for system installation, cabling ... Model Christ-like character and servant leadership on and off the clock. * Steward church resources ...

New

AEG

Fright Fest Scare Talent

Valencia, CA · On-site

$20/hr

... character startling and entertaining our park guests with great enthusiasm and animation ... rigging startling and entertaining our park guests with great enthusiasm and high animations.

Virtual Producer

VP Supervisor

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

... rigging skills preferred * Experience with video hardware and signals, video engineering experience preferred * Ability to develop and debug scripts in Python, preferred but not required Character ...

Socket.dev

Lead Animator

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

... shape the character performance and movement systems of our project. In this role, you'll ... rigging/prototyping processes. * Strong practical skill in hand-key facial animation (such as ...

AGBO

Expression of Interest - Technical Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $163K/yr

... character, lighting, materials, and asset production pipelines. * Build and improve artist-friendly ... Knowledge of asset pipeline concepts such as LOD generation, texture streaming, rigging, import ...

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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 Sep 15, 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.

Senior Technical Gameplay Animator

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

Naughty Dog
PC Games • 51 - 200 employees
Learn more about Naughty Dogexternal

$119K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

This is a hybrid / onsite position.  

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

Please note: This is not a rigging position. We are looking for an animator that is capable of being the bridge between art and technical teams by designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex runtime animation systems and character behaviors. 

What you will do:

  • Create high quality animation content supporting the newly developed behaviors and systems and implement it in engine
  • Work with the animation leadership on defining and maintaining the style and quality bar of the in-game animation
  • Collaborate with the Animation, Design, and Engineering teams to analyze, troubleshoot, and resolve in-game animation implementation issues and animation-related technical challenges
  • Take ownership of challenging projects and provide innovative solutions, including mentoring team members and creating documentation
  • Contribute to the strategic development of internal technologies and artistic processes
  • Facilitate the creation and implementation of tools and techniques that allow the building of complex and high-quality animation systems
  • Innovate and streamline animation pipeline processes and workflows

What skills you will use: 

  • 5+ years of industry experience in gameplay animation for games
  • Proven track record of creating visually stunning animations for diverse game genres
  • Full understanding of in-game animation tools like state machines, blend trees, IK solvers, etc.
  • Expertise with mocap and keyframe based digital content creation pipelines built on Maya or Motionbuilder
  • Proficiency in Python, C#, C++ or other programming languages is required
  • Proactively contributes to the progress of the team and the project

As a part of the Naughty Dog application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio or demo reel of their work and may be asked to complete an animation test. 

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The estimated USA base pay range for this zone (Los Angeles area) is listed below. This role may be eligible for additional compensation packages that includes annual bonus and other incentive plans.

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