ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Contract Animation Background Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

INSPYR Solutions

VFX Artist III

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$69.26 - $85.41/hr

... 6+ month contract (expected end 12/2026) Compensation: $69.26 - $85.41/hour Summary: As a Senior Real-Time VFX Artist, you will work closely with animators, artists, and designers to create ...

Roblox

Senior 3D Artist, Technical

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$163K - $200K/yr

As a Senior Technical Animator, you will be working with a team of talented engineers, artists, and ... background, training, work experience, location, business needs and market demand. Therefore, in ...

INSPYR Solutions

VFX Artist III

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$69.26 - $85.41/hr

... 6+ month contract (expected end 12/2026) Compensation: $69.26 - $85.41/hour Summary: As a Senior Real-Time VFX Artist, you will work closely with animators, artists, and designers to create ...

teamLFG

Staff Technical Animator

$143K - $214K/yr

... Artists developing tools that support the animation pipeline REQUIRED SKILLS • In-depth ... background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background ...

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

AGBO

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

AGBO Films LLC

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC · On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

You will partner closely with Character Artists, Animators, Riggers and Engineers to ensure our ... Review and optimize skin weights, joint counts, and influence limits across hero and background ...

Insomniac Games

Senior Cinematic Animator

$76.92 - $86.06/hr

Develop high-quality cinematic animation content using both motion capture and hand-key techniques ... This job has no supervisory responsibilities, however this role mentors more junior artists.

next page

Showing results 1-20

All JobsContract Animation Background Artist Jobs

Contract Animation Background Artist information

See salary details

$9

$24

$40

How much do contract animation background artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract animation background artist in the United States is $24.65, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.55 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Contract Animation Background Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Animation Background Artist, you need strong artistic ability, a keen eye for detail, proficiency in color theory, and a solid portfolio demonstrating experience in animation or illustration. Familiarity with digital painting tools like Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or similar software is essential, and experience with animation pipelines or asset management systems is highly valued. Creativity, adaptability, and the ability to collaborate effectively with directors and other artists help you stand out in this position. These skills ensure the delivery of visually compelling backgrounds that support storytelling and maintain consistency within animated productions.

What are some common workflow challenges for contract animation background artists, and how can they be addressed?

Contract animation background artists often face tight deadlines and the need to quickly adapt to different art styles across multiple projects or studios. Communication can be challenging, especially when working remotely with directors or animation teams spread across various locations. To overcome these challenges, it's important to establish clear channels for feedback, maintain organized file management, and proactively seek clarification on project expectations. Regular check-ins and sharing work-in-progress updates can help ensure alignment and smooth collaboration.

What are Contract Animation Background Artists?

Contract Animation Background Artists are professionals who create the visual environments and backgrounds for animated films, TV shows, and other media on a project-by-project basis. They are usually hired temporarily to work on specific productions, providing detailed and stylistically appropriate backgrounds that enhance the storytelling and overall aesthetic of the animation. These artists collaborate closely with art directors, animators, and other team members to ensure consistency with the project's visual style. Their work is crucial in setting the mood, tone, and context for animated scenes. Contract positions allow studios flexibility in scaling their teams according to project needs.

What is the difference between Contract Animation Background Artist vs Contract Character Animator?

AspectContract Animation Background ArtistContract Character Animator
Required SkillsDrawing, painting, digital art, environment designCharacter movement, acting, rigging, facial expressions
Work EnvironmentAnimation studios, freelance projects, post-productionAnimation studios, freelance, post-production
Industry UsageFilm, TV, video games, commercialsFilm, TV, video games, commercials

Both roles require strong artistic skills and familiarity with animation software. The main difference lies in their focus: background artists create environments and settings, while character animators bring characters to life through movement. Understanding these distinctions helps employers and artists identify the right fit for specific projects.

More about Contract Animation Background Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Animation Background Artist jobs? Cities with the most Contract Animation Background Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Background Artist jobs? The most popular types of Animation Background Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Animation Background Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Animation Background Artist jobs include:
Contract Animation Background Artist jobs near you
Lecturer 3D Digital Animation

Lecturer 3D Digital Animation

University of Colorado Denver I Anschutz

Denver, CO • On-site

$5.1K/mo

Part-time

Posted 18 days ago

University Of Colorado Denver rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

113th of 544 rated colleges and universities

Job description

University of Colorado – College of Arts & Media

Lecturer
 

The University of Colorado Denver l Anschutz Medical Campus seeks individuals with demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment.  We value the ability to engage effectively with students, faculty and staff of diverse backgrounds.

 

Nature of Work The Digital Animation Center (DAC) program within the Visual Arts department in the College of Arts & Media at the University of Colorado Denver seeks a qualified candidate to fill a part-time Lecturer teaching position. This is a temporary, non-tenure track position that will teach no more than two courses per semester. Appointments will be part-time (less than 50%) and will be made semester-by-semester, depending on the needs of the department. 3D Graphics and Animation The 3D Graphics and Animation emphasis at the University of Colorado Denver is a competitive and rigorous four-year curriculum focused on preparing students to work in a wide variety of fields that use animated digital computer graphics (CG), including entertainment, film and television, gaming, medicine, and science. Examples of Work Performed Teach courses from introductory to advanced levels of 3D graphics and animation to undergraduate students in the Digital Animation Center program.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $5,150 per 3-credit semester course.

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

The University of Colorado offers a full benefits package. Information on University benefits programs, including eligibility, is located at Employee Services.

University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks for all new employees prior to their employment.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work. Alternative formats of this ad are available upon request for persons with disabilities.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line. 

Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits.

Total Compensation Calculator: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/total-compensation

Diversity and Equity:

Please click here for information on disability accommodations: https://www1.ucdenver.edu/offices/human-resources/employee-relations-performance/ada-compliance

Office of Equity: https://www1.ucdenver.edu/offices/equity

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse student body, faculty and administrative staff. The university strives to promote a culture of inclusiveness, respect, communication and understanding. We encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and all veterans. The University of Colorado is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment.

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in 3D animation and some relevant professional experience 
  • Excellent communication skills 
  • Knowledge of Autodesk’s Maya and other industry standard software
  • Excellent facility with graphic design applications such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator 
  • Solid generalist skills in 3D graphics and animation 
  • Ability to teach and work with a diverse student body. 

Preferred Requirements

  • Experience teaching in a higher education environment.
  • Master’s Degree in a related field.
 

What University Of Colorado Denver employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

Apply