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Environment Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Warnerbros

Lead Environment Artist

Chicago, IL

NetherRealm Studios is on the lookout for a Lead Environment Artist to help create standout, next-level game worlds. You'll work with the Art Director, Art Leads, and Tech Leads to set the look and ...

Rockstar Games

Artist: Environment

Andover, MA · On-site

$68K - $85K/yr

Rockstar is on the lookout for a talented Environment Artist with a passion for game development. This is a full-time, in-office position based out of Rockstar's development studio in Andover, MA.

2K

Principal Concept Artist (Environments)

Novato, CA

$123K - $182K/yr

As a Principal Environment Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the foundational visual DNA of our project. You will collaborate with a ...

2K

Principal Concept Artist (Environments)

Novato, CA · On-site

$123K - $182K/yr

As a Principal Environment Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team to help shape the foundational visual DNA of our project. You will collaborate with a ...

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Environment Artist information

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How much do environment artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for environment artist in the United States is $30.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.63 and $37.02 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Environment Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Environment Artist, you need strong artistic abilities in 3D modeling, texturing, and a solid understanding of color, composition, and lighting, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Mastery of industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine or Unity, as well as familiarity with PBR workflows, is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and strong collaboration and communication skills help you stand out in this role. These skills ensure the creation of immersive, visually compelling environments that enhance the overall quality and storytelling of games or films.

What is the highest paid art job?

In the field of environment art, senior roles such as Lead Environment Artist or Art Director tend to have the highest salaries, often exceeding six figures annually. These positions require extensive experience, advanced skills in 3D modeling and software like Unreal Engine or Maya, and leadership responsibilities within game or film development teams.

How does an Environment Artist typically collaborate with other departments during a game development project?

Environment Artists work closely with level designers, concept artists, and technical artists to ensure that the visual aspects of the game's world align with gameplay requirements and artistic vision. This collaboration often involves regular meetings to discuss level layouts, asset requirements, and optimization needs. Environment Artists may also coordinate with lighting artists and programmers to ensure environments are both visually appealing and technically efficient. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as changes in design or gameplay can impact how environments are built or adjusted throughout development.

What is the difference between Environment Artist vs Environment Designer?

AspectEnvironment ArtistEnvironment Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in art, 3D modeling, or related fieldOften requires a background in game design, art, or related discipline
Work EnvironmentWorks primarily in 3D modeling software, game engines, and art toolsFocuses on conceptualizing and designing environment layouts and gameplay spaces
Industry UsageCommonly employed in game development, film, and animationPrimarily used in game design, level creation, and interactive media

Environment Artists focus on creating detailed 3D models and textures for environments, while Environment Designers plan and conceptualize the layout and gameplay aspects of environments. Both roles are essential in game development but differ in their core responsibilities and skill sets.

What are environment artists?

Environment artists are professionals in the video game, film, or animation industries who are responsible for creating the visual environments where the action takes place. They design and build landscapes, buildings, and props, ensuring that these elements fit the overall style and narrative of the project. Their work involves modeling, texturing, and lighting to produce immersive and believable worlds. Environment artists collaborate closely with other artists and designers to optimize assets for performance while maintaining visual quality.

Are environmental artists in demand?

Environmental artists are in demand in the gaming, film, and virtual reality industries, where they create detailed and immersive environments. The need for skilled artists proficient in tools like Unreal Engine and Blender continues to grow as demand for realistic digital worlds increases.

How do I become an environmental artist?

To become an environmental artist, you typically need a background in art, design, or a related field, along with proficiency in 3D modeling and digital tools such as Autodesk Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine. Building a strong portfolio showcasing environmental concepts and scenes is essential, and gaining experience through internships or personal projects can improve job prospects. Some roles may require knowledge of game engines, texturing, and lighting techniques.

What Does an Environment Artist Do?

An environment artist is a digital animator that creates background art, typically in the video game industry. As an environment artist, your duties center on creating the environment in which the video game characters exist. This can range from creating in-game props to designing the textures for the entire landscape of the game. However, the job usually focuses on the objects in the background as opposed to the background itself. While it’s possible to work on independent video games, larger game developers are much more likely to have the resources to hire designated environment artists. You may also find work on animated film and video projects. Qualifications for this career include extensive 3D modeling experience and excellent design and rendering software skills.

What do environment artists do?

Environment artists create detailed 3D models and visual assets for the backgrounds and settings in video games, films, or virtual environments. They use tools like Maya, Blender, or Unreal Engine to design natural and built environments, focusing on realism and artistic style. Strong skills in modeling, texturing, and an understanding of lighting are essential for this role.
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Environment Artist jobs near you
Environment Artist - GameSim - Talent Pipeline

Environment Artist - GameSim - Talent Pipeline

Keywords Studios

Orlando, FL • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago

Job description

GameSim is a game development studio that partners with clients to build games across PC/console and a range of art styles. We care about craftsmanship, collaboration, and shipping work we're proud to put our names on. If you love building environments and believable spaces we'd like to meet you. Our headquarters is based in Orlando, FL!

Talent Pipeline Posting Notice
Please note that this posting is not tied to an immediate vacancy. We are proactively building a pipeline of qualified candidates in anticipation of potential hiring needs over the coming months. Applications will be reviewed and retained for future consideration as opportunities arise.

We are looking for an Environment Artist / Generalist with strong hands-on art skills, solid technical judgment, and the potential to grow into broader lead responsibilities over time.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys both creating high-quality 3D art and helping teams work more clearly, consistently, and efficiently. Depending on the project, this person may contribute directly to asset creation, world building, scene assembly, feedback, task breakdowns, workflow documentation, quality reviews, and cross-studio collaboration.

Because our projects can vary widely in style, scope, platform, and client needs, we are looking for an adaptable artist with a strong art eye, a practical production mindset, and the ability to help translate creative direction into actionable work for other artists.

This is a hands-on production role with opportunities to support team alignment, mentor other artists, improve workflows, and grow toward lead-level responsibilities.

This role offers flexible work options, including remote, hybrid or in-office arrangements.

Responsibilities
  • Create high-quality 3D environment art, props, modular assets, materials, set dressing, and world-building content across a variety of visual styles.
  • Work from concept art, reference, style guides, blockouts, client direction, or incomplete/vague creative briefs to produce clear and polished results.
  • Build, assemble, and integrate assets and environments in Unreal Engine, with attention to composition, readability, performance, and technical requirements.
  • Support the full environment art pipeline, including modeling, UVs, baking, texturing, material creation, optimization, engine integration, and final polish.
  • Review artwork from internal teammates, partner studios, or external vendors and provide clear, constructive, actionable feedback.
  • Help translate broad client or project feedback into specific tasks, priorities, notes, and acceptance criteria that artists can execute against.
  • Assist with maintaining visual consistency across assets, scenes, and artists by helping define quality bars, style expectations, and review standards.
  • Collaborate with art directors, leads, producers, technical artists, designers, engineers, and artists across multiple studios and time zones.
  • Help identify production risks early, including unclear direction, workflow gaps, quality issues, technical constraints, or schedule concerns.
  • Contribute to workflow and pipeline improvements that help the team work more efficiently and consistently.
  • Document processes, best practices, feedback, and workflow guidance when needed using tools such as Confluence, Miro, or Jira.
  • Balance visual quality, production efficiency, and performance requirements while supporting the needs of each project.
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About Keywords Studios

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Whatever the scale of your project, whatever the time frame, whatever your location: Keywords is here for you, bringing our network of 13,000+ people and 70+ studios together to deliver the unified solutions you need. We offer everything necessary to ensure your project achieves its full potential and that strategic opportunities are turned into long-term growth. The games industry is complex and fast-moving. Working with Keywords allows you to remain lean and agile, and to remain focused on creating the world’s most immersive playing experiences. Our network of studios brings best-in-class experience, expertise, technology and capacity across the full development, release and player-support lifecycle.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Burbank, CA, US

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