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Full Time 2D Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Character Artist

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

What to expect We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and ... Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D. * Document ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

New

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA ยท Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

New

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA ยท Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

New

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Regular, full-time employees are also eligible for a range of benefits at the Company, including ...

New

Technical Artist

Austin, TX

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Technical Artist acts as aresource within the art team, mentoring other ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

Technical Artist

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Technical Artist acts as a resource within the art team, mentoring other ... Animation - 2D character specific * Scripting ability to common art tooling (Photoshop, 3dx Max ...

Senior Artist

$130K - $155K/yr

Job Type Full-time Description Join the Fun at Arrow International! Arrow International is the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

Job Type Full-time Description Join the Fun at Arrow International! Arrow International is the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Senior Artist

Cleveland, OH ยท On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

... 2D and/or 3D animations. * Exceptional artistic skills including composition, color theory, typography, visual hierarchy, and character design. * Ability to quickly learn and effectively utilize ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$80 - $120K/hr

... character design skills to help push our games to new heights. You'll play a key role in the ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Story Artist- Ink

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$74.52/hr

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

Story Artist- Ink

Vancouver, WA ยท On-site

$74.52/hr

Use knowledge of 2D and/or CG animation to ensure that posing, staging, and cutting is both ... storytelling, character development, composition, and editorial pacing. * Advanced working ...

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Full Time 2D Character Artist information

See salary details

$104.5K

$120.5K

$128.5K

How much do full time 2d character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time 2d character artist in the United States is $120,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a full time 2D character artist do?

A Full Time 2D Character Artist is responsible for creating and designing character illustrations, concept art, and visual assets for various media such as video games, animation, and comics. They work closely with art directors and other team members to develop unique characters that fit the project's style and vision. Their tasks often include sketching, refining designs, finalizing artwork, and ensuring consistency across all character assets. Attention to detail, creativity, and strong drawing skills are essential in this role.

How does a full time 2D character artist typically collaborate with other departments during game development?

As a Full Time 2D Character Artist, you will frequently collaborate with game designers, animators, and developers to ensure that character concepts align with gameplay and storytelling needs. You'll participate in regular meetings to review feedback, make necessary revisions, and maintain consistency with the overall visual style of the project. Effective communication and adaptability are key, as you'll often need to adjust your designs based on technical constraints or narrative updates. This cross-departmental collaboration fosters a dynamic environment and can provide valuable learning opportunities from different creative perspectives.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a full time 2D character artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Full Time 2D Character Artist, you need strong drawing fundamentals, an understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character design, often supported by a relevant art degree or portfolio. Proficiency in digital art tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, or Procreate is typically expected, and familiarity with asset management systems can be beneficial. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are important soft skills that enable collaboration and innovation. These skills and qualities are essential for producing engaging characters that meet project requirements and resonate with audiences.

What is the difference between Full Time 2D Character Artist vs 2D Concept Artist?

AspectFull Time 2D Character Artist2D Concept Artist
Primary FocusCreating detailed character illustrations for games, animation, or comicsDesigning characters, environments, and assets for concepts and pre-production
Skills & ToolsProficiency in Photoshop, illustration, anatomy, and character designSketching, brainstorming, visual storytelling, and concept development
Work EnvironmentFull-time employment in game studios, animation companies, or publishersFreelance or studio-based, often in pre-production phases
Industry UsageCommonly hired for ongoing character asset creationHired for initial design phases and concept development

While both roles involve character design, a Full Time 2D Character Artist focuses on creating polished, production-ready characters for ongoing projects, whereas a 2D Concept Artist specializes in initial designs and visual ideas during the pre-production stage.

More about Full Time 2D Character Artist jobs

What cities are hiring for Full Time 2D Character Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Full Time 2D Character Artist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of 2D Character Artist jobs?

The most popular types of 2D Character Artist jobs are:

What states have the most Full Time 2D Character Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Full Time 2D Character Artist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Full Time 2D Character Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,531 per year, or $57.9 per hour.

Character Artist

Human Computer Lab

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$142K - $149K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago


Job description

Human Computer Lab is a research lab building character robots that feel alive and responsive. Our first robot, LeLamp, explores a new category of consumer robotics where everyday objects become interactive and help us reshape our attachment to technology.
Our goal is to push the frontier of human-robot interaction by making technology more legible, emotionally intuitive, and human-centered. We are building the foundation for a new generation of robots designed for everyday environments.
What to expect
We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and feels - the visual and expressive language that makes a robot read as alive rather than mechanical. You'll work on everything from early concept sketches and mood boards to the motion, gesture, and lighting cues that give the robot its personality, translating character intent into something the hardware and software teams can actually build and ship. This role requires tight, fast-cycling collaboration with electrical, mechanical, and software teams - character decisions here don't stay on paper, they become motor curves, timing, and light behavior. You'll work closely with the CEO and founding team to shape the character identity of LeLamp and the robots that follow.
In this role, you will:
  • Create concept art, mood boards, and character studies that define LeLamp's personality and visual identity.
  • Collaborate with the hardware team on form factor, silhouette, materials, and color to keep the physical design aligned with the character.
  • Design expressive motion - gestures, "emotional" states, and behaviors expressed through movement, light, and sound.
  • Prototype and iterate quickly, moving between sketches, renders, and physical mockups.
  • Partner with robotics and software engineers to translate character intent into concrete behavior parameters (motion curves, timing, lighting cues).
  • Build and maintain style guides and a character bible to keep the robot's expression consistent as the team grows.
  • Review hardware and software prototypes against the character vision and give clear, actionable feedback.
  • Support brand and marketing assets to keep the character consistent across every touchpoint.

You may be a good fit if you:
  • Are pursuing a degree in screen-writing, animation, character design, industrial design, or a related field - or have equivalent hands-on portfolio experience.
  • Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D.
  • Document clearly and can explain the reasoning behind a design choice, not just the choice itself.
  • Are comfortable iterating quickly, moving from rough sketch to testable prototype without waiting for a perfect brief.
  • Are genuinely interested in physical products, not just screen-based or purely digital characters.

You will be a strong fit, if you:
  • Have designed characters or mascots that had to work within real hardware or physical constraints, not just on a screen.
  • Understand core animation principles (timing, weight, squash and stretch, anticipation) and know how to translate them into motors, servos, and lighting.
  • Are comfortable collaborating directly with engineers, turning an abstract sense of "feel" into concrete specs they can build against.
  • Move quickly through iteration cycles and don't wait for perfect information to make progress.
  • Take ownership over your work end to end, from first sketch to a behavior that's live in the robot.
  • Work well in small, collaborative teams where character, electrical, and mechanical are in constant conversation.
  • Care about what the character enables: warmth, expressiveness, and the feeling that the robot is alive.

The early team becomes the DNA of the company. We set ourselves and others to a high standard, and we respond with kindness when things get hard but keep everyone accountable. This requires us to be curious, creative, and diverse in our thinking and approach.
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. Studies show that women and underrepresented groups often hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria - we don't want that to be the reason we miss out on great talent.