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Lead Texture Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

As Lead Character Artist, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the production of ... Sculpt, model, and texture characters to meet the artistic and technical requirements of the ...

Absurd Ventures

Lead Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$170K - $200K/yr

As Lead Character Artist, you will be responsible for creating and overseeing the production of ... Sculpt, model, and texture characters to meet the artistic and technical requirements of the ...

Insomniac Games

OR

The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the ... Strong knowledge of procedural texture generation software (e.g. Substance Designer, Filter-Forge ...

Insomniac Games

Lead VFX Artist

$153K - $230K/yr

The Lead VFX Artist is responsible for managing and developing a visual effects team. Has the ... Strong knowledge of procedural texture generation software (e.g. Substance Designer, Filter-Forge ...

INSPYR Solutions

3D Artist

Menlo Park, CA · On-site

$50 - $80/hr

Expertise in retopology, UV creation, and texture baking is essential. RESPONSIBILITIES * Hard ... Lead the 3D asset production from rendering models to launch in collaboration with technical ...

The Mill

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY

$139K - $166K/yr

Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using ... texturing best practices * Collaborate with other developers to develop and test new features ...

The Mill

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$139K - $166K/yr

Work with the CG Lead and Creative Director to design and build interactive experiences using ... texturing best practices * Collaborate with other developers to develop and test new features ...

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How much do lead texture artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead texture artist in the United States is $25.73, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.38 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Lead Texture Artist vs Texture Artist?

AspectLead Texture ArtistTexture Artist
ResponsibilitiesOversees texturing team, sets standards, reviews workCreates textures for models, follows project guidelines
ExperienceTypically 5+ years, leadership skills required2-4 years experience, strong technical skills
Work EnvironmentCollaborative, team-oriented, often in a studioIndividual or team-based, in a studio or remote
CredentialsPortfolio, relevant industry experience, sometimes leadership trainingPortfolio, technical skills, relevant certifications

The main difference between a Lead Texture Artist and a Texture Artist lies in their responsibilities and experience level. The Lead Texture Artist manages the texturing team and ensures quality standards, while the Texture Artist focuses on creating textures under project guidance. Both roles require strong technical skills and industry experience, but the lead position involves leadership and oversight duties.

What is a Lead Texture Artist?

A Lead Texture Artist is a senior role in the visual effects, animation, or gaming industry responsible for overseeing the creation of textures that give 3D models their detailed and realistic appearance. They supervise a team of texture artists, set visual standards, and collaborate with other departments to ensure consistency and quality in texturing work. In addition to hands-on texturing, Lead Texture Artists often mentor junior artists, manage workflow, and contribute to the development of new techniques and tools. Their expertise helps bring digital environments and characters to life, making them essential to the production pipeline.

How does a Lead Texture Artist typically collaborate with other departments during a game or film production?

As a Lead Texture Artist, collaboration is key to ensuring visual cohesion across the project. You’ll regularly work with modelers, lighting artists, and art directors to align on texture requirements, material consistency, and the overall artistic vision. Communication with technical teams is also essential to optimize textures for performance and compatibility. This collaborative environment helps ensure that the final assets not only look great but also function seamlessly within the production pipeline.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Texture Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Texture Artist, you need expertise in digital painting, texture creation, and a solid understanding of color theory and real-world material properties, often backed by a degree in art or design and a strong portfolio. Mastery of industry-standard tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Substance Painter, and 3D modeling software like Maya or Blender is typically required. Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills help guide teams, provide constructive feedback, and collaborate effectively across departments. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling assets and maintain consistency and quality throughout the production pipeline.
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Lead Texture Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Texture Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 9% Internship, 73% Full Time, and 18% Part Time. Highlights an 98% Physical, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,524 per year, or $25.7 per hour.

Lead Character Artist

Absurd Ventures

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$170K - $200K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 9 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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