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Game Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

You will have a direct impact on the visual identity of our games, bringing characters to life with stunning detail and artistic excellence. Core Responsibilities * Lead the character art team in the ...

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$170K - $200K/yr

You will have a direct impact on the visual identity of our games, bringing characters to life with stunning detail and artistic excellence. Core Responsibilities * Lead the character art team in the ...

Thatgamecompany

3D Character Artist (Mid-Senior)

$81K - $114K/yr

3D Character Artist (Mid-Senior) thatgamecompany is looking for a Mid-Senior 3D Character Artist to ... Passion for creating memorable characters for games * Understanding of Industry Standard Software ...

Side

3D Character Artist - Talent Pool (N Americas)

$123K - $130K/yr

About Side Side is a global video game development and services provider, offering technical and ... As a 3D Character Artist , you will play a key role in crafting high-quality characters that bring ...

teamLFG

3D Character Art Lead

$153K - $230K/yr

Your efforts will exhilarate players and elevate the setting and tone for a new standard in PlayStation games. As a leader for the character art team, you'll demonstrate a balance of artistic ...

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How much do game character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for game character artist in the United States is $123,136.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $170,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Game Character Artist job?

A Game Character Artist is responsible for designing and creating 3D characters for video games. They use software like ZBrush, Blender, or Maya to sculpt, model, and texture characters based on concept art and game requirements. Their work involves ensuring characters have realistic or stylized appearances, proper topology for animation, and optimized assets for performance. They collaborate with concept artists, animators, and game designers to ensure characters fit the game's artistic and technical needs.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Game Character Artist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Game Character Artist, you need a strong background in 3D modeling, sculpting, texturing, and a solid understanding of human and creature anatomy, often supported by a degree in art, design, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, Adobe Photoshop, and game engines such as Unreal or Unity is highly valued, along with any relevant digital art certifications. Creativity, collaboration, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt feedback are crucial soft skills. These capabilities are essential for producing high-quality, engaging character assets that meet artistic vision and function seamlessly within a game development pipeline.

What are some typical challenges a Game Character Artist faces during the development process?

Game Character Artists often face challenges such as balancing creative vision with technical constraints imposed by game engines or hardware limitations. They may need to optimize models and textures to ensure smooth performance without sacrificing visual quality, and often work through iterative feedback from art directors and design teams. Collaboration with animators and developers is common, requiring clear communication to ensure characters deform and animate correctly. Adapting to changing project requirements and maintaining consistency with the game’s style are also important aspects of the role.

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Game Character Artist jobs near you

Lead Character Artist

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 11 days ago

Job description

Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Character Artist to join our dynamic team. As Lead Character Artist, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the production of high-quality character assets. You will have a direct impact on the visual identity of our games, bringing characters to life with stunning detail and artistic excellence.
Core Responsibilities
  • Lead the character art team in the creation of high-quality character models.
  • Collaborate with the Art Director to define the visual style of characters.
  • Sculpt, model, and texture characters to meet the artistic and technical requirements of the project.
  • Contribute in planning, organization and prioritization of tasks with Production for internal, OS, and co dev partners.
  • Create and maintain character pipeline documentation for training and onboarding
  • Proactively identify risks in character art production timelines and effectively communicate risks to Production and Directors.
  • Mentor and provide feedback to other character artists.
  • Ensure character assets are optimized for performance and memory usage.
  • Work closely with rigging, animation, and technical art teams to ensure characters are ready for implementation.
  • Stay current with industry trends and techniques in character art.

Core Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Game Art, or related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in character art within the video game industry.
  • Strong proficiency in Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter.
  • Significant experience in Unreal Engine
  • Excellent understanding of anatomy, form, and silhouette.
  • Experience with PBR and hand-painted texturing workflows.
  • Proven track record of creating high-quality character models for AAA titles.
  • Ability to lead a team and work collaboratively across departments.

Plus if...
  • Experience with character rigging and skinning.
  • Knowledge of Marvelous Designer or similar tools for clothing simulation.
  • Experience with rigid body dynamics and cloth simulation in Unreal Engine
  • Previous work in a leadership role on a major game title.

Description
  • Full-time job with benefits.
  • Role is on-site in Santa Monica, CA.
  • Office is located near downtown Santa Monica - near metro and freeway.

The base pay range for this position is $170,000 to $200,000 per year. Actual compensation is based on market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. We also offer a competitive package of benefits including vacation time, sick time, company holidays, parental leave, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) matching to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.

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