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Game Concept Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Environment Concept Artist

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$117K - $135K/yr

What You'll Do Epic Games is searching for an experienced Lead Environment Concept Artist to support and supervise environment concept content created by external partners as part of our ...

As a Senior Character Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team ... Collaborating with a passionate group of game developers you will be responsible for creating high ...

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Character Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team ... Collaborating with a passionate group of game developers you will be responsible for creating high ...

Senior Concept Artist

Rockville, MD ยท On-site

$85K - $185K/yr

Bethesda Game Studios strives to offer its employees a well-balanced home and work life by ... Salary Range Senior Concept Artist - The typical base pay range for this position at the start of ...

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

As a Senior Character Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development team ... Collaborating with a passionate group of game developers you will be responsible for creating high ...

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with ... Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one ...

Senior Environment Concept Artist

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

What You'll Do Epic Games is searching for an experienced Senior Environment Concept Artist to support and supervise environment concept content created by external partners as part of our ...

Senior Concept Artist

Cary, NC ยท On-site

$117K - $140K/yr

Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make ... What You'll Do Epic is looking for a Senior Concept Artist to join the Rocket League team. This is ...

Concept Artist [Contract] (Retro Studios)

Austin, TX ยท On-site

$125K - $144K/yr

Work closely with Design to rapidly iterate gameplay thumbnails to be used in conjunction with ... Has 3 or more years' gaming industry experience as a concept artist, including at least one ...

Lead Concept Artist - Fanatics TCG About the Team Fanatics Collectibles is building the next ... Our ambition is not simply to launch games, but to build iconic franchises that become deeply ...

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As a Principal Environment Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development ... You will collaborate with a passionate group of game developers and be responsible for crafting ...

As a Principal Environment Concept Artist at Cloud Chamber, you will join our talented development ... You will collaborate with a passionate group of game developers and be responsible for crafting ...

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Game Concept Artist information

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$37K

$123.1K

$196K

How much do game concept artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for game concept 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 Concept Artist job?

A Game Concept Artist creates visual designs and illustrations that define the look and feel of characters, environments, props, and other elements in a video game. They work closely with game designers and art directors to establish the artistic vision before production begins. Their sketches and digital paintings serve as blueprints for 3D modelers, animators, and other artists to follow. Strong drawing skills, creativity, and an understanding of game aesthetics are essential for this role.

How much do game concept artists make?

Game concept artists typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level artists may start lower, while experienced professionals or those working for major studios can earn higher salaries, often supplemented by benefits and bonuses.

How to get a job as a game concept artist?

To become a game concept artist, build a strong portfolio showcasing your artistic skills and understanding of game design, and gain proficiency in digital art tools like Photoshop or Illustrator. Relevant education in art or design, along with experience in character and environment development, can improve your chances; networking within the industry and applying to entry-level positions are also important steps.

What does a game concept artist do?

A game concept artist creates visual designs and illustrations to develop the look, feel, and style of a video game. They produce concept art for characters, environments, and assets, often using digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator, to communicate ideas to the development team during early production stages.

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

To thrive as a Game Concept Artist, you need strong drawing and painting abilities, creative visualization skills, and a background in art or design, often supported by a relevant degree or portfolio. Mastery of digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Procreate is essential, and familiarity with 3D modeling software is a plus. Excellent communication, adaptability, and collaboration skills help you translate ideas into visuals while working closely with game designers and other artists. These skills are critical for creating imaginative and consistent visual concepts that guide the overall look and feel of a game.

What does a typical workflow look like for a Game Concept Artist in a game development studio?

As a Game Concept Artist, your typical workflow involves receiving briefs from art directors or game designers, brainstorming initial concepts, and creating sketches or mood boards to visualize ideas. You will iteratively develop these visuals into more polished artwork through feedback and revisions, often collaborating with other artists, animators, and 3D modelers to ensure the concept aligns with the overall game vision. Daily tasks may include quick ideation sketches, detailed character or environment designs, and technical breakdowns for production teams. The role is dynamic and often requires shifting between creative exploration and meeting specific project deadlines. Effective communication and teamwork are key to ensuring your concepts translate fluently into the final game assets.

What art-related jobs are about $80,000 a year?

For a Game Concept Artist, salaries around $80,000 annually are common with several years of experience, strong portfolio, and proficiency in digital art tools like Photoshop or Blender. Other art-related roles such as senior illustrators or art directors in the gaming industry can also reach or exceed this salary level, especially in larger companies or with specialized skills. Salary varies based on location, experience, and company size.
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What cities are hiring for Game Concept Artist jobs? Cities with the most Game Concept Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Concept Artist jobs? The most popular types of Game Concept Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Game Concept Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Game Concept Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Game Concept Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Game Concept Artist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Game Concept Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 10% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 87% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,136 per year, or $59.2 per hour.
Lead Environment Concept Artist

Lead Environment Concept Artist

Epic Games

Cary, NC โ€ข On-site

$117K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

WHAT MAKES US EPIC?
At the core of Epic's success are talented, passionate people. Epic prides itself on creating a collaborative, welcoming, and creative environment. Whether it's building award-winning games or crafting engine technology that enables others to make visually stunning interactive experiences, we're always innovating.
Being Epic means being a part of a team that continually strives to do right by our community and users. We're constantly innovating to raise the bar of engine and game development.
ART
What We Do
Push your artistic talent to the limit on a team of world-class environment, character and concept artists who strive to innovate and inspire.
What You'll Do
Epic Games is searching for an experienced Lead Environment Concept Artist to support and supervise environment concept content created by external partners as part of our collaboration with Disney. Reporting to the project Art Director and working closely with the Outsource Manager and Environment Art Leads, you will help drive the visual quality, consistency, and world-building direction of environment concept art across the project.
This role requires a highly skilled environment concept artist with strong leadership instincts, exceptional communication skills, and experience working within AAA game production pipelines. You will collaborate with both internal and external teams to ensure concept work aligns with the project's artistic vision, gameplay needs, and production requirements while helping establish a clear quality bar for outsourced environment art.
In this role, you will
  • Partner closely with the Art Director, Environment Art Leads, Outsource Managers, and internal art teams to support external environment concept vendors
  • Communicate the project's visual direction and world-building goals to outsource partners while ensuring all submitted work meets Epic and Disney quality standards
  • Create and oversee high-quality environment concept designs that support the visual identity and storytelling needs of the project
  • Develop mood boards, paint-overs, visual target references, callouts, and production documentation to guide external teams
  • Help define environment pipelines, workflows, and quality benchmarks for outsourced concept art production
  • Review outsource submissions and provide clear, actionable artistic feedback to ensure consistency in style, tone, composition, and functionality
  • Collaborate closely with environment art, level design, lighting, VFX, and gameplay teams to ensure concepts support downstream production requirements
  • Identify risks, communication gaps, or quality concerns early and escalate appropriately to leadership when needed
  • Lead, mentor, and provide artistic direction for a small team of environment concept artists
What we're looking for
  • Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong environment concept art skills, visual storytelling, composition, color theory, lighting, and world-building
  • Deep understanding of environmental design principles, including architecture, atmosphere, scale, shape language, and gameplay readability
  • Experience working as a Senior or Lead Environment Concept Artist on at least one shipped AAA title
  • Strong ability to communicate visual direction and collaborate effectively with both internal developers and external outsourcing partners
  • Experience creating production-ready concept packages, including callouts, orthographic designs, paint-overs, and reference sheets
  • Understanding of downstream game development workflows and how concept art supports environment art, lighting, level design, and VFX production
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and feedback skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
  • Proven ability to maintain high artistic standards while balancing production realities and schedules
  • Experience working with stylized and/or highly immersive world-building aesthetics is a strong plus
  • Bonus: Fluency in an additional language such as Chinese, Spanish, German, Italian, or Russian
EPIC JOB + EPIC BENEFITS = EPIC LIFE
Our intent is to cover all things that are medically necessary and improve the quality of life. We pay 100% of the premiums for both you and your dependents. Our coverage includes Medical, Dental, a Vision HRA, Long Term Disability, Life Insurance & a 401k with competitive match. We also offer a robust mental well-being program through Modern Health, which provides free therapy and coaching for employees & dependents. Throughout the year we celebrate our employees with events and company-wide paid breaks. We offer unlimited PTO and sick time and recognize individuals for 7 years of employment with a paid sabbatical.
ABOUT US
Epic Games is a leading interactive entertainment company. For over 30 years we've been making award-winning games and engine technology that empowers others to make visually stunning games and 3D content that bring environments to life like never before. Epic's award-winning Unreal Engine technology not only provides game developers the ability to build high-fidelity, interactive experiences for PC, console, mobile, and VR, it is also a tool being embraced by content creators across a variety of industries such as media and entertainment, automotive, and architectural design. As we continue to build our Engine technology and develop remarkable games, we strive to build teams of world-class talent.
Like what you hear? Come be a part of something Epic!
Epic Games deeply values diverse teams and an inclusive work culture, and we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. Learn more about our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy here.
Note to Recruitment Agencies: Epic does not accept any unsolicited resumes or approaches from any unauthorized third party (including recruitment or placement agencies) (i.e., a third party with whom we do not have a negotiated and validly executed agreement). We will not pay any fees to any unauthorized third party. Further details on these matters can be found here.