ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Concept Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Aquent

Production Artist 4

Redmond, WA · On-site

$50 - $52/hr

Are you a visionary 3D & Concept Artist with a passion for social-first content? This is an extraordinary opportunity to join a central creative team where you will be instrumental in transforming ...

Thatgamecompany

3D Character Artist (Mid-Senior)

$81K - $114K/yr

Collaborate with project leads, concept artists, designers, and engineers * Brainstorm ideas and create rapid 3D prototypes during the concept and design phase * Support the rest of the 3D team to ...

Thatgamecompany

3D Environment Artist (Sky)

$60K/yr

Collaborate with project leads, concept artists, and designers * Brainstorm ideas and create rapid prototypes during the concept phase * Support the rest of the art team to create 3D assets * Review ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsConcept Artist Jobs

Concept Artist information

See salary details

$120K

$132.8K

$146.5K

How much do concept artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for concept artist 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.

How do concept artists typically collaborate with other departments during a game or film project?

Concept artists work closely with art directors, 3D modelers, animators, and sometimes writers to ensure their visual ideas align with the creative vision and technical requirements of a project. Regular feedback sessions and team meetings are common, allowing concept artists to refine their designs based on input from other departments. This collaborative approach helps translate early sketches into detailed references that guide the production pipeline, ensuring consistency and feasibility throughout the project.

What is a concept artist?

As a concept artist, your job duties are to take clients’ ideas and create visualizations of their thoughts that serve as a springboard for the design phase of projects. Concept art could be a storyboard or a collection of rough drawings and sketches, depending on the client and the nature of their project. You can work in many industries as a concept artist, including film and digital entertainment, the video game industry, architecture and building, and even interior design. You can find concept artist jobs at design studios or work as a contractor for companies that need your services.

What is the difference between Concept Artist vs Character Designer?

AspectConcept ArtistCharacter Designer
CredentialsPortfolio, artistic skills, possibly a degree in art or designPortfolio, strong drawing skills, often a background in character design or illustration
Work EnvironmentFilm, video games, animation, entertainment industryVideo games, animation, comics, entertainment industry
Employer & Industry UsageStudios, production companies, game developersGame studios, animation houses, comic publishers

While both roles involve creating visual concepts, a Concept Artist develops broad visual ideas and environments for projects, whereas a Character Designer focuses specifically on designing characters' appearances and personalities. Both roles require strong artistic skills and often overlap, but their primary focus and deliverables differ within the creative process.

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

To thrive as a Concept Artist, you need strong drawing skills, a solid grasp of color theory, composition, and anatomy, often complemented by a degree in art or design. Proficiency in digital illustration tools like Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Procreate is essential, along with familiarity with 3D modeling software like Blender or ZBrush. Creativity, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate effectively with other team members are standout soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for transforming ideas into compelling visuals that guide the look and feel of games, films, or products.
More about Concept Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Concept Artist jobs? Cities with the most Concept Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Concept Artist jobs? The most popular types of Concept Artist jobs are:
Who are the top companies hiring for Concept Artist jobs? The top employers for Concept Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Concept Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Concept Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Concept Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Concept Artist jobs are:
What are popular job titles related to Concept Artist jobs? For Concept Artist jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Concept Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Concept Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $132,826 per year, or $63.9 per hour.

Principal Concept Artist, Environment/Character - League of Legends

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

As a Concept Artist at Riot you will bring characters, creatures, environments and props to life. Drawing inspiration from as little as a napkin sketch or as much as a full-blown narrative concept, you will generate ideas and craft designs that are resonant, compelling and iconic. As a problem solver, first and foremost, you will help come up with visual solutions for game concepts.
As a Principal Concept Artist for League of Legends at Riot Games, you will bring champions, and gameplay moments to life through compelling, stylized visuals. Your work will help define iconic experiences for players around the world. You'll join the League of Legends, where you'll navigate constrained game design spaces and find elegant, thoughtful ways to express fantasy. Reporting to the Concept Art Lead, you'll help shape the future of League's art style, set standards through your work, and uplift your teammates through feedback and mentorship. This role is for someone who thrives on creative problem-solving, deeply understands the League IP, and believes that player delight starts with strong visual storytelling.
Responsibilities:
  • Partner with creative leadership to explore new cosmetic thematics that elevate League's champions, environments and express powerful fantasy
  • Concept compelling characters, environments, props, and skin lines that support gameplay clarity, aesthetic appeal, and originality
  • Translate design intent and gameplay constraints into visually satisfying concepts that align with League's art and game design direction
  • Develop moodboards, style guides, and pitch materials grounded in research, taste, and trend awareness. Create production-ready concept art and orthographics for 3D artists, VFX, and animation teams
  • Actively participate in craft reviews and offer/receive feedback with clarity and intent
  • Mentor and support other artists by modeling quality, consistency, and collaboration
  • Work closely with cross-disciplinary partners to ensure visual solutions serve both gameplay and fantasy
Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of professional experience in concept art for games or animation
  • A strong portfolio highlighting early ideation, a range of visual styles, and case studies that showcase your process and creative decision-making
  • Expert-level proficiency in Photoshop (or equivalent software)
  • Strong grasp of stylized art fundamentals: anatomy, form, lighting, color, and value
  • Ability to draw inspiration from diverse sources including fantasy, pop culture, historical references, and global trends
  • Portfolio demonstrating strong concept work across characters, props, and environments, balancing visual storytelling with gameplay clarity
  • Strong communicator who thrives in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments
Desired Qualifications:
  • Shipped content for at least AAA title
  • Familiarity with League of Legends, its champions, cosmetics, and player expectations
  • Experience designing for isometric camera gameplay
  • Ability to deliver broad-appeal visuals while pushing boundaries in creative expression
  • Learning mindset and openness to evolving tools and workflows

For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first. That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
Riot Games logo

About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

FacebookTwitter

View All Riot Games Jobs

Apply