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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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How much do environment artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 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.

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.

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.

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Environment Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Environment Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 70% In-person, and 30% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $62,907 per year, or $30.2 per hour.
Lead Environment Artist

Lead Environment Artist

Warnerbros

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery... the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are...

When we say, "the stuff dreams are made of," we're not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD's vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what's next...

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

The creative team that brought Mortal Kombat and Injustice to life is now NetherRealm Studios, part of the Warner Bros. Games family. With over 20 years of creation under our belts, NetherRealm's mission remains the same: to create cutting edge entertainment and deliver industry leading tech, game art and overall gaming experiences. NetherRealm Studios is a collaborative and creative environment, constantly striving to up the ante on what is possible in interactive entertainment. Our team is comprised of dedicated professionals with years of experience who are at the forefront of the gaming industry. The passion and energy that made Mortal Kombat a reality is still on display every day in our offices, our hallways and most definitely the studio's arcade room.

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 feel for our environments, pushing both the art and tech boundaries. As Lead, you'll guide a team of artists and collaborate with external partners to make sure everything we create hits our high standards. We're looking for someone who's all about finding ways to make the game even better, values feedback and loves working in a team to bring amazing, and sometimes brutal, ideas to life.

**Please Note: Position is hybrid from studio in Chicago

  • Work with the Art Director, Art and Technical Leads to shape and maintain the overall vision for environments and environment-adjacent systems.
  • Mentor, support, and give regular feedback to build and maintain a strong, cohesive team.
  • Promote skill-sharing through training sessions, clear documentation, and both written and video tutorials.
  • Estimate tasks, coordinate with production, and ensure that environment goals align with other departments.
  • Collaborate closely with the team during prototyping to enable quick iterations on environment assets and game systems.
  • Create benchmark quality assets from concept art and breakouts to demonstrate visual and technical quality as a reference for the environment team.
  • Regularly review assets to maintain quality and ensure proper technical implementation.

The Essentials

  • At least 4-5 years of video games development experience with significant involvement in 2 published AAA games, with at least one project at the Lead level or equivalent experience.
  • Ability to quickly prototype and iterate in collaboration with other departments.
  • Strong skills in environmental design, layout, composition, and storytelling.
  • Great sense of scale and proportion.
  • Expert knowledge of Adobe Substance tools like Painter and Designer.
  • Knowledge of physically based rendering (PBR).
  • Experience with Unreal Engine 4 or newer
  • Self-motivated and proactive with a strong work ethic.
  • A creative, empathetic, and collaborative approach to teamwork.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills.

The Nice to Haves

  • Familiar with Mortal Kombat, Injustice, and other fighting game properties
  • Experience with procedural content creation packages

How We Get Things Done...

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or any other category protected by law.

If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery's total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $77,000.00 - $143,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.

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