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Contract Video Game Concept Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist -- the creative brain ... You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain ... You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Fayetteville, AR · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Winston Salem, NC · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Indianapolis, IN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Edina, MN · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Highland Park, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

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Contract Video Game Concept Artist information

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How much do contract video game concept artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average hourly pay for contract video game concept artist in the United States is $15.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract video game concept artist?

A Contract Video Game Concept Artist is a creative professional hired on a temporary or project basis to design and illustrate visual concepts for video games. They work closely with game designers, art directors, and other team members to establish the look and feel of characters, environments, props, and other visual elements. Their artwork serves as a blueprint for 3D modelers, animators, and other artists throughout the game's development. Contract artists typically work remotely or onsite for the duration of a specific project or until certain milestones are achieved. This role requires strong artistic skills, an understanding of game development pipelines, and the ability to adapt to various art styles.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract video game concept artist?

To thrive as a Contract Video Game Concept Artist, you need strong illustration skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, perspective, color theory, and a portfolio demonstrating your design range. Expertise in digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and familiarity with game development pipelines are typically required. Creativity, adaptability, time management, and the ability to incorporate feedback make someone stand out in this role. These skills ensure high-quality, visually compelling concepts that align with the game’s vision and meet project deadlines in a collaborative environment.

What are some common challenges faced by contract video game concept artists, and how can they be managed?

Contract video game concept artists often navigate challenges such as adapting quickly to different game styles, working remotely with diverse teams, and managing varying client expectations. Since project scopes and deadlines can shift, strong communication and time management skills are essential. Staying organized, regularly sharing progress updates, and being open to feedback help ensure that deliverables align with the creative vision and timeline. Additionally, building a versatile portfolio and networking with industry professionals can lead to more consistent opportunities.

What is the difference between Contract Video Game Concept Artist vs Contract Character Designer?

AspectContract Video Game Concept ArtistContract Character Designer
CredentialsPortfolio, artistic skills, possibly relevant art or design certificationsPortfolio, strong character design skills, relevant art certifications
Work EnvironmentRemote or studio-based, collaborative with art and design teamsRemote or studio-based, focused on character creation for games or media
Industry UsageUsed across gaming, entertainment, and media industries for initial visual conceptsPrimarily in gaming and animation industries for character development

While both roles involve creating visual art for games, a Contract Video Game Concept Artist focuses on developing overall game concepts and visual styles, whereas a Contract Character Designer specializes in designing specific characters. Both require strong artistic skills and portfolios, but their focus areas differ within the game development process.

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Contract Video Game Concept Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Contract Video Game Concept Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $31,769 per year, or $15.3 per hour.

Sr Concept Artist, Environments

PlayStation Global

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.
Join the award-winning team that created God of War
Santa Monica Studio is seeking an experienced Sr Environment Concept Artist for the development of a new unannounced title!
We are looking for an experienced concept artist with a focus on environments to help us visualize imaginative and unique worlds that set the bar for creativity and complexity on the PlayStation console. You would contribute to the artistic vision, working with art teams to establish the tone of the game, and bring it to life. As a member of the team passionate about environments, you must effectively collaborate with the Art Director, Game Director, and Art Leads to craft worlds that are visually spectacular and cohesive while also working with a wide range of development team members to ensure technical feasibility. Help us craft unique visuals that define our industry!
Responsibilities
  • Design environments, props, production callouts, system interacts, high vision concept art, color scripts, marketing material and other visual guides and tasks as needed to assist the development team
  • Combine the goals of game design, art direction, and technological considerations to build industry defining environments
  • Research and initiate information gathering of pertinent subject matter to your task
  • Develop and maintain strong creative and collaborative partnerships across disciplines to help further develop the in-game environments, visual language, and rule sets for fantasy-based worlds
  • Solve complex artistic development issues for both artists as well as other team members
  • Actively improve your skills and maintain an awareness of industry techniques, tools, evaluate competitive products, learning new software packages and traditional art methods
  • Serve as an artistic resource for overall product or as a studio resource - this includes, but is not limited to conducting general research, developing ground-breaking techniques, or testing new systems and tools
Requirements
  • Strong command of foundation art skills (drawing, painting and rendering, material indication, perspective, composition, color theory, design, anatomy and 2d and 3d design techniques)
  • Strong design skills with the ability to render realistic believable fantasy based props, architecture, and natural landscapes using contemporary industry standard tools and techniques
  • Strong ideation, brainstorming and documentation skills
  • Proficiency in Photoshop with an emphasis on drawing, painting and image making
  • Ability to block out ideas in 3D as well as 2D depending on the needs of the task
  • Strong time management and prioritization skills - this entails collaborating with the Production group to coordinate task lists to ensure assignments are progressing well according to schedules, objectives, and overall project goals
  • Familiarity with video game product development and the fundamentals of 3D packages
  • Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts or relevant curriculum or equivalent skillset
  • 3+ years of AAA video game platform experience
Preferred Experience
  • Two or more published titles is desirable

#LI-SMS
#LI-AM1
Avoid Recruitment Scams/Phishing Attempts:
Please be aware that any official outreach in response to your application will always be done from a @sony.com email address. Always make sure to double check the spelling on Sony is correct and the characters have not been replaced with any numbers/symbols before replying.
Anyone using an email that is not @sony.com is not affiliated with us and should be reported either via the platform they are contacting you on or directly to your email service as a phishing attempt/scam.
At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$120,600-$180,800 USD
Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.
Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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