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Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Insomniac Games

Lead VFX Artist

$153K - $230.40K/yr

The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the ... animation/keyframing, rigid-body and fluid simulations, materials, shaders, lighting and rendering ...

Swaybox Studios

Rhino Designer

New Orleans, LA

Collaborate with directors, production designers, and storyboard artists to create set layouts that ... Ensure sets are designed with camera angles, character movement, lighting, and puppet/animation ...

Insomniac Games

OR

The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the ... animation/keyframing, rigid-body and fluid simulations, materials, shaders, lighting and rendering ...

Scopely

Technical Artist - Monopoly GO!

Culver City, CA · On-site

$91.30K - $140K/yr

Scopely is looking for a Technical Artist to serve on and elevate our casual game, Monopoly GO ... animation controllers, particle systems, timeline sequences, lighting, game logic and using ...

KLS Martin

Graphic Designer I (34174)

Jacksonville, FL · On-site

This entry-level role is ideal for a designer who bridges the gap between traditional 2D design and ... Associates Degree or higher in Graphic Design or related fields, Visual Arts, 3D Animation, or a ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

$50 - $65/hr

LA brings together artists, editors, and storytellers into one hyper-collaborative team ... Keyshot, Cinema 4D with Redshift and CAD • Lighting and texture expert with proven portfolio of ...

Lindeman & Associates

3D Designer

Culver City, CA · On-site

LA brings together artists, editors, and storytellers into one hyper-collaborative team ... Keyshot, Cinema 4D with Redshift and CAD • Lighting and texture expert with proven portfolio of ...

Swaybox Studios

Rhino Designer

New Orleans, LA · On-site

Collaborate with directors, production designers, and storyboard artists to create set layouts that ... Ensure sets are designed with camera angles, character movement, lighting, and puppet/animation ...

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How much do entry level animation lighting artist jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level animation lighting 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 an Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist, you need a solid grasp of lighting principles, color theory, and visual storytelling, often supported by a degree or coursework in animation, fine arts, or a related field. Familiarity with industry-standard 3D software such as Maya, Houdini, or Blender, and rendering engines like Arnold or RenderMan, is typically required. Strong collaboration, attention to detail, and the ability to take creative direction are valuable soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure that lighting artists contribute effectively to the visual quality and mood of animated productions, aligning with the project's artistic vision.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level animation lighting artists, and how can they overcome them?

Entry level animation lighting artists often face challenges such as understanding the creative vision of a scene, mastering complex lighting software, and balancing technical constraints with artistic goals. It can be daunting to interpret feedback from supervisors and integrate it quickly while maintaining consistency across shots. To overcome these challenges, new artists should actively seek feedback, practice with industry-standard tools like Maya or Blender, and collaborate closely with other departments such as modeling and compositing to ensure their lighting enhances the overall story.

What does an Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist do?

An Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist is responsible for adding lighting to animated scenes to create mood, atmosphere, and visual depth. They work closely with other artists and technical teams to ensure that lighting supports the story and artistic vision of a project. Tasks often include setting up light sources, adjusting shadows, and rendering scenes while learning industry-standard software. Entry-level artists typically receive guidance from senior team members and may handle simpler shots as they build their skills. Attention to detail and a good understanding of visual storytelling are important in this role.

What is the difference between Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist vs Entry Level 3D Modeler?

AspectEntry Level Animation Lighting ArtistEntry Level 3D Modeler
Required SkillsLighting techniques, rendering, basic animation principlesModeling, topology, texturing
Work EnvironmentVFX studios, game development, animation studiosGame studios, animation studios, VFX companies
Common CertificationsBasic 3D software proficiency (Maya, Blender)3D modeling certifications, software proficiency
Industry UsageUsed in lighting scenes and visual effectsUsed in creating 3D assets and characters

While both roles require proficiency in 3D software and are employed in similar industries, the Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist focuses on lighting and rendering to enhance visual scenes, whereas the Entry Level 3D Modeler specializes in creating 3D assets and models. Understanding these distinctions helps job seekers target the right roles based on their skills and career goals.

More about Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs? The most popular types of Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs are:
Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Animation Lighting Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 17% Internship, 49% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 17% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $51,263 per year, or $24.6 per hour.
Lead VFX Artist

Lead VFX Artist

Insomniac Games

Remote

$153K - $230.40K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

Job description

Insomniac Games is searching for a Lead Visual Effects Artist. The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the knowledge and experience of creating art assets and sets an example for the team by demonstrating a mastery of industry standards and tools, proprietary technology, and departmental production workflows. Has a proven understanding of production schedules and project goals, along with game performance, and technical considerations.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Balance hands-on VFX asset creation with day-to-day team leadership and management of the VFX team.
  • Partner closely with Principal VFX Artist to plan, create and test content creation and pipelines before deploying to the development team
  • Oversee and support external VFX partners, ensuring they are properly onboarded to style and technical standards and that their deliveries meet quality expectations.
  • Collaborate with Production Management to scope and estimate work, build schedules, assign tasks and track progress for VFX deliverables.
  • Works closely with Art Directors to develop visual targets, maintain a cohesive visual style and consistent quality bar across all aspects in VFX.
  • Review VFX artists' work to ensure VFX content is performant aesthetically and technically that is aligned with Art Direction.
  • Collaborate with multiple disciplines to support gameplay, characters, cinematics, environments with VFX requirements.
  • Coordinate with cross-disciplinary teams to ensure VFX assets are delivered on time and integrated smoothly into the game.
  • Works closely with the Tool and Engine team to aid in the ongoing evolution and enhancements of proprietary tools and engine to improve and enhance VFX fidelity.
  • Champion and implement new production methods, best practices, and optimizations to improve efficiency and in-game performance.
  • Ensures that all complaints and concerns related to inappropriate or unprofessional conduct in the workplace are addressed immediately to foster a safe work environment.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of VFX artists, including consistent quality bar, goal-setting and performance reviews.
  • Other duties may apply

Supervisory Duties:
  • This job has supervisory responsibilities

Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws
  • Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems

Computer Skills:
  • Advanced level in Houdini and Maya: expert understanding of these DCC visual effects packages, competent working with joints and locators, animation/keyframing, rigid-body and fluid simulations, materials, shaders, lighting and rendering.
  • 3d modeling and procedural modeling/UV'ing skills are a must.
  • Strong knowledge and experience with modern game engines/editors such as Unreal, Unity, proprietary, etc.
  • Proficient with real-time particle-editors and VFX systems such as Unreal's Niagara, PopcornFX, etc.
  • Advance understanding of complex node-based shader networks such as those used in Unreal, Unity, etc.
  • Familiarity with game scripting and/or node-based systems (e.g. Unreal Blueprint, etc).
  • Have strong grasp of technical scripting, programming and expressions pertaining to DCC and graphics: e.g. MEL, Python, Houdini VEX, HLSL Shaders, etc.
  • Proficient in Photoshop for painting and editing textures.
  • Strong knowledge of procedural texture generation software (e.g. Substance Designer, Filter-Forge, After-Effects, etc).
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Knowledge of other visual effects or CG software a plus (e.g. Blender, Nuke, etc).

If this sounds like the opportunity that you have been looking for, please submit your application below.
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.
Base pay is one component of our total compensation package. 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, as well as additional compensation components, such as annual bonus, profit sharing, and other incentive plans.
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.
Profit Sharing (PSS Only)
$153,000-$230,400 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.

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