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Concept Artist Illustrator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Graphic Artist

Charlotte, NC ยท On-site

$115K - $137K/yr

Illustrates concept by designing rough layout of art and copy regarding arrangement, size, type ... Creates illustrations, posters and overlays as visual aids for divisional presentations and for ...

Artists are expected to have superior talents in several artistic categories, including ... concept art for game content and events screens that adhere to the overall game's illustration and ...

3D Artist 2

Olathe, KS ยท On-site

This role will help create, concept, design and produce compelling 3D graphics, that will live on ... Bachelor's Degree in 3D Animation, Visual Communication, Film, Illustration, Motion Design or other ...

Artists are expected to have superior talents in several artistic categories, including ... concept art for game content and events screens that adhere to the overall game's illustration and ...

... years as Production Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer or similar within a design studio ... Professional understanding of conventional and digital printing processes as well as the concept of ...

... years as Production Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer or similar within a design studio ... Professional understanding of conventional and digital printing processes as well as the concept of ...

... years as Production Artist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer or similar within a design studio ... Professional understanding of conventional and digital printing processes as well as the concept of ...

... Illustrator producing 2D vector art, alongside strong 3D art fundamentals, and the artistic ... Concept art ability, helping visualize new ideas before they move into production. Experience with ...

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Concept Artist Illustrator information

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$120K

$132.8K

$146.5K

How much do concept artist illustrator jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept artist illustrator in the United States is $132,826.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,000.00 and $146,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a concept artist illustrator?

A Concept Artist Illustrator is responsible for creating visual representations of ideas, characters, environments, and props for various media, such as video games, films, and animation. They develop initial sketches, refine designs, and collaborate with directors and designers to establish the visual style of a project. Their work helps guide 3D modelers, animators, and other artists in bringing concepts to life. Strong artistic skills, creativity, and proficiency in digital tools like Photoshop or Procreate are essential for this role.

What does a typical workday look like for a concept artist illustrator in a studio environment?

A typical workday for a Concept Artist Illustrator involves collaborating with art directors, designers, and project leads to develop visual concepts for characters, environments, or products. Most days are spent sketching, painting, and refining concept artwork based on project briefs and iterative feedback from the team. Regular meetings and brainstorming sessions are common, especially during early design phases. While deadlines can be tight, the collaborative environment fosters creativity and professional growth, offering opportunities to influence the visual identity of games, films, or commercial projects.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a concept artist illustrator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Concept Artist Illustrator, you need strong drawing and painting abilities, a keen sense of visual storytelling, and a portfolio demonstrating creativity and design expertise, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Proficiency with digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Procreate is essential, and experience with 3D software or concept art workshops can be advantageous. Excellent communication, collaboration, and openness to feedback are crucial soft skills for this position. These abilities ensure that an illustrator can effectively bring ideas to life, work seamlessly within creative teams, and adapt to project needs in dynamic design environments.

How much does a concept artist illustrator get paid?

The average salary for a concept artist illustrator ranges from $45,000 to $85,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level artists typically earn less, while experienced professionals working on major projects or for large studios can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by freelance work or commissions.

Is there a demand for concept artist illustrators?

The demand for concept artist illustrators remains strong in industries such as video game development, film, and animation, where visual storytelling and character design are essential. Skilled artists proficient in digital tools like Photoshop and Blender are sought after, especially with the growth of multimedia projects and entertainment media. Job opportunities often require a strong portfolio and knowledge of current industry trends.
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Infographic showing various Concept Artist Illustrator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $132,826 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

Concept Designer and Illustrator (Video Games) - Digital Eclipse

Emeryville, CA โ€ข On-site

Digital Eclipse Entertainment Partners
PC Gamesย โ€ขย 11 - 50 employees

$80K - $95K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

Concept Designer and Illustrator (Video Games) - Digital Eclipse
Salary + benefit package | Remote (US based)
($80,000 - $95,000)
The Company
Classic video games deserve better. At Digital Eclipse, we treat them with the same care and respect given to other artistic mediums. In its original incarnation in 1994, Digital Eclipse pioneered accurate video game re-releases, emulating vintage arcade games well before "emulation" was a household word. 25 years later, we've been reborn as a new kind of studio - one dedicated to not only restoring gaming's heritage, but to preserving it and keeping it alive and available for future generations.
We've released critically acclaimed games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection and Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, worked with Mega Man, Street Fighter, and Disney, and developed successful original IP like #IDARB. And we're just getting started.
The Role
We're looking for a highly versatile Concept Designer and Illustrator to support multiple game projects across concept, pre-production, and production. This role is ideal for an artist who thrives on tackling a wide variety of styles, adapts quickly, can translate loose direction into strong visual execution and work effectively within the confines of different Intellectual Properties (IP).
You must be able to translate the essence of a brand into identifiable and communicative designs, hone in on an IP's visual language to create new and exciting artwork, and ideate conceptual illustrations from scratch. You'll help establish the visual tone of projects early, support ongoing production needs across disciplines, and collaborate closely with design, production, and engineering. This role requires comfort owning work end-to-end and jumping between styles and mediums as needed.
What You'll Do
  • Create background art, character art, and illustrative assets across multiple projects
  • Produce concept art to help define the visual tone and style of a game, especially during early phases
  • Support art needs for retro or stylized projects, including adherence to established "house styles"
  • Help rapidly establish and evolve an art style from business development through pre-production and into production
  • Translate written or verbal direction, often vague or evolving, into clear, actionable visual solutions
  • Iterate quickly based on feedback, balancing creative ambition with scope and production realities
  • Conceptualize and design the experience-focused User Interface (UI) and Heads-Up Display (HUD), prioritizing atmosphere and emotion for the game experience.
  • Execute art clean-up and restoration tasks for classic titles, including addressing dust specs, wear and tear, and ensuring image integrity.
  • Assist in the creation of production assets, leveraging proficiency across digital art categories, including 3D, pixel art, raster art, and vector art.
  • Collaborate closely with design, production, engineering, and external partners as needed
  • Support multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and consistency
  • Contribute to storyboarding, visual exploration, and early narrative or gameplay ideation when needed
  • Support additional art tasks and visual needs as projects shift between production phases

Must Haves
  • Strong ability to concept from scratch and develop ideas visually without heavy direction
  • Demonstrated experience iterating quickly with fast turnaround times
  • Professional experience in commercial art (games, animation, film, or related industries)
  • Comfort working across diverse art styles and mediums, including adapting to existing house styles
  • Strong color sense and illustrative fundamentals
  • Experience with storyboarding or sequential visual storytelling
  • Demonstrated experience in conceptual UI/HUD design or entertainment design.
  • Commitment to creating original artwork without reliance on AI generation tools.
  • Proficiency with industry-standard tools (Blender, Adobe Suite, etc.)
  • Comfort working across different categories of digital art including raster, vector, and pixel based mediums
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally
  • Ability to take unclear or high-level feedback and turn it into concrete action items
  • Welcomes feedback as part of a collaborative, iterative creative process
  • Clear awareness of scope, timelines, and production constraints
  • Ability to commute or relocate to the Emeryville, California area

Bonus Points
  • Passion for video games, especially retro games
  • 3+ years of experience in commercial art
  • Experience working with established IP
  • Familiarity with licensors and licensed properties
  • Experience coordinating with or supporting external contractors
  • Understanding of traditional art styles and techniques
  • Foundational knowledge of 3D art (modeling or block-outs) or modeling experience.

Compensation, Benefits + Perks
  • Salary Range: $80,000 - $95,000/year. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.
  • Full medical and dental benefits
  • Generous parental leave
  • 15+ paid holidays + PTO
  • A friendly office with collaborative and talented colleagues, an arcade, and rooftop deck to enjoy office lunches and BBQs

To Apply
Please submit a resume, cover letter and link to portfolio
EEO Statement
Digital Eclipse is an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to equal employment regardless of race, religion or lack thereof, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, medical condition, veteran status, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.