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Contract Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

THIS IS AN ONSITE CONTRACT POSITION - Austin, TX Position includes: * Paid weekly * Health care ... Collaborate with the Art Director, Artists, and Designers to define the look of our games by ...

... Artist who thrives in today's digital media landscape. This role involves the creative and efficient execution of scripted video content with The ideal candidate is excited to tackle challenges that ...

... Artist who thrives in today's digital media landscape. This role involves the creative and efficient execution of scripted video content with The ideal candidate is excited to tackle challenges that ...

... Artist who thrives in todays digital media landscape. This role involves the creative and efficient execution of scripted video content with The ideal candidate is excited to tackle challenges that ...

Artist Instructors will join a team of dedicated artists who provide visual arts instruction in ... Benefits • Set pursuant to a union contract and include Paid Sick Time, Pre-tax Commuter Benefits ...

Contract/Hourly Benefits: Non benefit eligible Pay Range: $50/hour for teaching time, $24/hour for ... Bold stories, brilliant artists, and passionate audiences come together to shape each season at ...

Contract/Hourly Benefits: Non benefit eligible Pay Range: $50/hour for teaching time, $24/hour for ... Bold stories, brilliant artists, and passionate audiences come together to shape each season at ...

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Contract Artist information

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How much do contract artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract 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 in the Contract Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract Artist, you need a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skill, creativity, and proficiency in your chosen medium (such as illustration, 3D modeling, or graphic design), often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Suite, Autodesk Maya, or Blender is typically required, and certifications or specialized training can be advantageous. Strong communication, time management, and adaptability are crucial for collaborating with clients, meeting deadlines, and adjusting to shifting project needs. These skills ensure you can deliver high-quality work on schedule and maintain positive, professional relationships with clients and teams.

What types of projects and collaboration can a Contract Artist expect?

As a Contract Artist, you may work on a wide variety of creative projects, such as illustrations, character designs, concept art, or digital assets for games and marketing materials, depending on the industry and client needs. Most contract roles involve collaborating closely with creative directors, project managers, or marketing teams to align your work with overall project goals. Communication is key, as you’ll typically discuss project briefs, receive feedback, and iterate on your artwork remotely or as part of a distributed team. Being able to effectively incorporate feedback and adapt to different artistic styles or brand guidelines is essential for success and client satisfaction.

What is a Contract Artist job?

A Contract Artist is a freelance or temporary visual artist hired to create artwork for specific projects. They work with clients or companies across various industries, such as gaming, advertising, publishing, and entertainment. Contract Artists typically specialize in areas like illustration, graphic design, animation, or concept art. Their responsibilities may include designing characters, environments, branding materials, or promotional visuals. Since they work on a contract basis, they may juggle multiple projects simultaneously and must manage deadlines and client expectations efficiently.

More about Contract Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Contract Artist jobs? Cities with the most Contract Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Artist jobs? The most popular types of Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Contract Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Contract Artist jobs include:
Infographic showing various Contract Artist job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,263 per year, or $24.6 per hour.
Artist Manager - Temp (SFD / Cinematics)

Artist Manager - Temp (SFD / Cinematics)

Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Irvine, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago


Blizzard Entertainment rating

9.3

Company rating: 9.3 out of 10

Based on 12 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

3rd of 68 rated media


Job description

Team Name:
Creative Development
Job Title:
Artist Manager - Temp (SFD / Cinematics)
Requisition ID:
R027780
Job Description:
Blizzard Entertainment has an amazing opportunity for a seasoned Artist Manager to join its Creative Development team. The ideal candidate possesses outstanding people management, communication, and organization skills, and a thorough understanding of artist dynamics.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position, with some work on-site and some work-from-home. The home studio for this role is Irvine, CA.
This is a 6-month temporary position.
Responsibilities
Priorities can often change in a fast-paced environment like ours, so this role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities:
  • Partner with Sr. Manager of storyboard and editorial departments to support full-time and contract artists with career development, performance reviews and other department initiatives.
  • Manage a team of artists by providing day-to-day operational and administrative support, including absence management, compensation actions, upcoming show opportunities, contract extensions, and related staffing needs.
  • Work closely with HR when people issues arise and escalate any concerns.
  • Assist with the hiring and onboarding of new artists based on studio needs- proactively tracking resource planning, reviewing portfolios and conducting interviews.
  • Act as a strategist in partnership with Sr. Manger to help the teams with both short-term and long-term planning around career growth and staffing.
  • Build relationships and establish consistent communication with cinematic producers and directors to ensure that the needs of the shows are being met.
  • Manage server file structures and maintain team wiki pages to support efficient asset organization, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.
  • Plan team activities to promote team engagement and bonding.

Minimum Requirements
  • 8+ years' artist management experience.
  • Brings robust experience in an artist management / resource management function in post-production, visual effects, animation or gaming.
  • Anticipates potential risks and proactively develop alternative solutions in partnership with key stakeholders.
  • Possesses excellent administrative, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (written and verbal).
  • Can mange talent in a dynamically changing production environment.
  • Maintains a calm, solutions-oriented mindset with a strong emphasis on collaboration.
  • Can handle a wide range of personnel issues including recruitment, career development, and conflict resolution .

Extra Points
  • Cinematic, film, or concept art or content creation experience .
  • Passionate about Blizzard games.

Your Platform
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, and StarCraft®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard, which was acquired by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry's most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net®, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
Our World
Activision Blizzard, Inc., is one of the world's largest and most successful interactive entertainment companies and is at the intersection of media, technology and entertainment. We are home to some of the most beloved entertainment franchises including Call of Duty®, World of Warcraft®, Overwatch®, Diablo®, Candy Crush™ and Bubble Witch™. Our combined entertainment network delights hundreds of millions of monthly active users in 196 countries, making us the largest gaming network on the planet!
Our ability to build immersive and innovate worlds is only enhanced by diverse teams working in an inclusive environment. We aspire to have a culture where everyone can thrive in order to connect and engage the world through epic entertainment. We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered!
The videogame industry and therefore our business is fast-paced and will continue to evolve. As such, the duties and responsibilities of this role may be changed as directed by the Company at any time to promote and support our business and relationships with industry partners.
We love hearing from anyone who is enthusiastic about changing the games industry. Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide! Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.
We are committed to working with and providing reasonable assistance to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you are a disabled individual requiring an accommodation to apply for an open position, please email your request to accommodationrequests@activisionblizzard.com. General employment questions cannot be accepted or processed here. Thank you for your interest.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, among other characteristics.
Rewards
We provide a suite of benefits that promote physical, emotional and financial well-being for 'Every World' - we've got our employees covered! Subject to eligibility requirements, the Company offers comprehensive benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, vision, health savings account or health reimbursement account, healthcare spending accounts, dependent care spending accounts, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance;
  • 401(k) with Company match, tuition reimbursement, charitable donation matching;
  • Paid holidays and vacation, paid sick time, floating holidays, compassion and bereavement leaves, parental leave;
  • Mental health & wellbeing programs, fitness programs, free and discounted games, and a variety of other voluntary benefit programs like supplemental life & disability, legal service, ID protection, rental insurance, and others;
  • If the Company requires that you move geographic locations for the job, then you may also be eligible for relocation assistance.

Eligibility to participate in these benefits may vary for part time and temporary full-time employees and interns with the Company. You can learn more by visiting https://www.benefitsforeveryworld.com/.
In the U.S., the standard base pay range for this role is $89,280.00 - $165,168.00 Annual. These values reflect the expected base pay range of new hires across all U.S. locations. Ultimately, your specific range and offer will be based on several factors, including relevant experience, performance, and work location. Your Talent Professional can share this role's range details for your local geography during the hiring process. In addition to a competitive base pay, employees in this role may be eligible for incentive compensation. Incentive compensation is not guaranteed. While we strive to provide competitive offers to successful candidates, new hire compensation is negotiable.

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About Blizzard Entertainment

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Blizzard Entertainment is a globally recognized leader in the Digital Gaming industry, renowned for creating some of the world's most popular video games such as "World of Warcraft," "Overwatch," and "Diablo." The company was founded in 1991 and is currently based in Irvine, California, USA. Aside from creating engaging video games, Blizzard Entertainment also develops and supports a wide range of software products within the realm of entertainment. The company prides itself on its commitment to quality, an element that can be recognized in its vast array of legendary games. Notably, its creation, World of Warcraft, remains one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Irvine, CA, US

Year founded

1991

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