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Indie Game Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

... Electronic Arts to the Kickstarter-fueled Indie scene. If you're looking to jumpstart a career in game journalism, mxdwn Games is a great place to begin. If interested, email your resume and a ...

... Electronic Arts to the Kickstarter-fueled Indie scene. If you're looking to jumpstart a career in game journalism, mxdwn Games is a great place to begin. If interested, email your resume and a ...

Unreal Engine Technical Artist

Winston Salem, NC ยท On-site

$109K - $130K/yr

Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using ...

Engineering Lead

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $159K/yr

... artists, game designers, and more โ€ข contribute technical as well as game design ideas ... You're well-versed in everything from modern indie and AAA hits to the old school pioneers that ...

Director / Head of Game Capture

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

... artists to deliver world-class trailer footage for titles ranging from AAA to indie. What You'll Do * Direct Virtual Cinematography: Turn creative briefs, scripts, and storyboards into compelling ...

Currently Epoch Games is developing The Lays of Althas: Sundered Order (LoA:SO). LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world. The game is being developed using ...

Director / Head of Game Capture

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

... artists to deliver world-class trailer footage for titles ranging from AAA to indie. What You'll Do * Direct Virtual Cinematography: Turn creative briefs, scripts, and storyboards into compelling ...

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Co-define engine-level technical artist tooling and create documentation or best practices to raise ...

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Co-define engine-level technical artist tooling and create documentation or best practices to raise ...

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Co-define engine-level technical artist tooling and create documentation or best practices to raise ...

Senior Graphics Programmer

Bellevue, WA ยท On-site

$180 - $260/hr

Studio Wildcard, creators of the smash indie hit ARK: Survival Evolved, was founded in 2014. ARK ... Co-define engine-level technical artist tooling and create documentation or best practices to raise ...

Unreal Engine Level Designer

Winston Salem, NC ยท On-site

$93K/yr

LoA:SO is an in-development indie open-world RPG set in an original fantasy world: The game is ... with 3D Artists letting them know assets that are still needed. If you are comfortable with ...

$80 - $120/hr

... games that achieve the unexpected. From our roots as an indie studio to joining the expansive roster of studios at Electronic Arts, this remains our guiding principle. We truly love what we do and ...

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Indie Game Artist information

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$37K

$123.1K

$196K

How much do indie game artist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for indie game 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 does an indie game artist do?

An Indie Game Artist creates visual assets for independent video games, including characters, environments, UI, and animations. They often work in smaller teams or solo, handling multiple artistic responsibilities. Unlike artists in larger studios, they may need to adapt to different art styles and tools while collaborating closely with developers. Their work ensures the game has a cohesive and engaging visual identity.

What types of projects and responsibilities can an indie game artist expect on a typical indie development team?

As an Indie Game Artist, you may be responsible for a wide variety of tasks, including designing character sprites, creating backgrounds, developing UI elements, and sometimes even animating or implementing assets directly into the game engine. Because indie teams are usually small, artists often collaborate closely with designers and programmers, contributing ideas and feedback across multiple aspects of the game. This hands-on approach provides the opportunity to shape the overall visual style and have a direct impact on the game's identity. While it can be challenging to juggle multiple responsibilities and switch between different artistic tasks, it also offers a unique chance to develop a broad skill set and take ownership of your creative work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the indie game artist position, and why are they important?

To excel as an Indie Game Artist, you need strong skills in digital illustration, 2D/3D asset creation, and a solid understanding of visual storytelling and game art fundamentals. Familiarity with industry-standard tools like Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, or Unity, along with a strong portfolio, is critical. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication are essential soft skills, as indie teams are often small and highly collaborative. These skills are vital because Indie Game Artists typically wear multiple hats, contributing to diverse aspects of game development while ensuring visual quality and consistency.

How can I get into the gaming industry as an indie game artist?

Indie game artists can enter the gaming industry by building a strong portfolio showcasing their art skills, learning relevant tools like Photoshop or Blender, and creating small projects or prototypes to demonstrate their abilities. Networking within online communities, participating in game jams, and sharing work on platforms like ArtStation or Behance can also help gain visibility and opportunities.

How much do indie game artists get paid?

Indie game artists' salaries vary widely based on experience, project scope, and revenue, but they typically earn between $20,000 and $70,000 annually. Many work freelance or on a project basis, and income can increase with a strong portfolio, specialized skills, and successful game releases.

How much do indie game artists make?

Indie game artists typically earn between $20,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on experience, project scope, and success. Many work freelance or on a contract basis, often supplementing income through multiple projects or other related roles such as character design or environment art.

What cities are hiring for Indie Game Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Indie Game Artist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Game Artist jobs?

The most popular types of Indie Game Artist jobs are:

What states have the most Indie Game Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Indie Game Artist jobs include:

Infographic showing various Indie Game Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 9% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,136 per year, or $59.2 per hour.

Senior Technical Artist (Apex Legends)

Electronic Arts Inc.

Madison, WI โ€ข On-site

$143K - $217K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 6 days ago


Job description

General Information
Locations: Vancouver - Great Northern Way, British Columbia, Canada
  • Location: Los Angeles - Chatsworth
  • State: California
  • Country: United States of America

  • Location: Madison
  • State: Wisconsin
  • Country: United States of America

Role ID
215737
Worker Type
Regular Employee
Studio/Department
EA Studios - Respawn
Work Model
Hybrid
Description & Requirements
Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen.
Founded in 2010 by the original creators of the Call of Duty Franchise, Respawn was created with the philosophy that when talented people have creative freedom, they'll make extraordinary games that achieve the unexpected. From our roots as an indie studio to joining the expansive roster of studios at Electronic Arts, this remains our guiding principle. We truly love what we do and want to share our passion with players worldwide.
Our shipped titles include critically acclaimed multi-platform games Apex Legends, Titanfall, Titanfall 2, Star Warsโ„ข Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Warsโ„ข Jedi: Survivor and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. Join us for the opportunity to create groundbreaking games with some of the best developer talent in the industry.
The Apex Legends team is seeking a Senior Technical Artist with deep expertise in character rigging to help power one of the most dynamic live service games in the world. As part of a large, collaborative team of passionate developers, you'll support our Animation and Modeling partners in delivering a constant stream of high-quality content-from new Legends and limited-time modes to seasonal updates and cosmetic releases that excite and engage millions of players globally.
In this role, you'll drive excellence in skinning and rigging, ensuring every character meets the highest standards of visual fidelity and runtime performance. You'll also champion pipeline improvements that scale across a fast-moving live environment, enabling the team to innovate quickly while maintaining polish and consistency. If you're excited about shaping characters that players connect with and celebrating the energy of a community that shows up every season ready for what's next, this is the place to do it.
Responsibilities
  • Report to the Lead Technical Artist, aligning on priorities, technical direction, and long-term pipeline goals.
  • Collaborate closely with Technical Art, Animation, and Character Art partners to implement solutions that are clean, scalable, and optimized for production.
  • Ensure exceptional quality in character rigging and skinning, upholding high standards for visual fidelity, deformation integrity, and runtime performance.
  • Educate and mentor junior and mid-level Technical Artists by creating clear documentation, sharing best practices, and fostering continued craft development.
  • Identify workflow opportunities and develop high-impact automation and tooling solutions that improve efficiency, consistency, and team output.

Qualifications
  • 5 years experience working in proprietary internal game engines and development environments.
  • Strong communication skills.
  • Experience rigging and skinning characters Maya.
  • Experience in writing Artist/Animator facing tools specifically for a large production environment.
  • Proficiency in Python.

Nice to Have
  • Familiarity with USD.
  • Knowledge of physics-based animation.
  • Have experience in live service content production.
  • Experience working in proprietary internal game engines and development environments.
  • Strong mathematical foundation used to troubleshoot and optimize 3D deformations.

In addition to opportunities for creative impact and professional growth which come with being a member of our team, working at Respawn has many other perks and benefits! Learn more at respawn.com/perks.
If this opportunity sounds like a great fit for you, we encourage you to apply.
Pay Transparency - North America
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).
PAY RANGES
* British Columbia (depending on location e.g. Vancouver vs. Victoria) *$122,300 - $170,700 CAD
* California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. San Francisco) *$143,800 - $217,200 USD
Pay is just one part of the overall compensation at EA.
In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.
For Canada, we offer a package of benefits including vacation (3 weeks per year to start), 10 days per year of sick time, paid top-up to EI/QPIP benefits up to 100% of base salary when you welcome a new child (12 weeks for maternity, and 4 weeks for parental/adoption leave), extended health/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, retirement plan to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and other incentive programs.
About Electronic Arts
We're proud to have an extensive portfolio of games and experiences, locations around the world, and opportunities across EA. We value adaptability, resilience, creativity, and curiosity. From leadership that brings out your potential, to creating space for learning and experimenting, we empower you to do great work and pursue opportunities for growth.
We adopt a holistic approach to our benefits programs, emphasizing physical, emotional, financial, career, and community wellness to support a balanced life. Our packages are tailored to meet local needs and may include healthcare coverage, mental well-being support, retirement savings, paid time off, family leaves, complimentary games, and more. We nurture environments where our teams can always bring their best to what they do.
Electronic Arts is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, religion, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, family status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We will also consider employment qualified applicants with criminal records in accordance with applicable law. EA also makes workplace accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities as required by applicable law.