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Material Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Music & Arts

Material Handler

Frederick, MD

$15/hr

Assess all products and pallets, notifying supervisor(s) of any damaged materials. * Responsible ... About Music & Arts Music & Arts embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our ...

DERICO BEAUTY BAR

Make Up Artist

Montgomery, AL · On-site

Makeup artists are responsible for consulting with clients and creating custom looks based on their specifications, determining which materials and colors are the most suitable and having knowledge ...

DERICO BEAUTY BAR

Make Up Artist

Montgomery, AL · On-site

Makeup artists are responsible for consulting with clients and creating custom looks based on their specifications, determining which materials and colors are the most suitable and having knowledge ...

The Mill

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY

$139.20K - $166.60K/yr

Material Creation - Design complex materials in Unreal and instruct artists on best practices for material creation * Lighting - Be well versed in the various lighting techniques in Unreal and ...

The Mill

Technical Artist

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$139.20K - $166.60K/yr

Material Creation - Design complex materials in Unreal and instruct artists on best practices for material creation * Lighting - Be well versed in the various lighting techniques in Unreal and ...

Ruckus Games

Technical Artist

Frisco, TX · On-site +1

$100K - $185K/yr

United States Compensation: $100,000 - $185,000 / year Description We're looking for a Senior Material/Technical Artist with at least 5 years experience in game development and one shipped title. You ...

Guitar Center

Material Handler

Frederick, MD · On-site

$16.75 - $20.25/hr

Assess all products and pallets, notifying supervisor(s) of any damaged materials. * Responsible ... About Music & Arts Music & Arts embodies the world of creativity and music by encouraging our ...

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Material Artist information

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$30.5K

$129.5K

$152.5K

How much do material artist jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for material artist in the United States is $129,541.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $127,000.00 and $152,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Material Artist job?

A Material Artist is responsible for creating realistic and high-quality textures and materials for 3D assets in video games, films, or other digital media. They work with tools like Substance Designer, Substance Painter, and Photoshop to develop materials that enhance the visual fidelity of environments, characters, and objects. This role requires a strong understanding of surface detail, lighting, and physically based rendering (PBR) workflows. Material Artists collaborate closely with environment artists, lighting artists, and technical teams to ensure assets fit seamlessly within a project. Their work plays a critical role in achieving a polished, immersive final product.

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

To excel as a Material Artist, you need a solid background in 3D art, an understanding of texture creation, shading, and a strong artistic eye, usually supported by a degree in art, game design, or a related field. Expertise with tools like Substance Designer/Painter, Photoshop, and game engines such as Unreal or Unity is often essential. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help Material Artists collaborate efficiently within multidisciplinary teams. These capabilities ensure the creation of visually compelling and technically refined materials that elevate the overall quality of digital or interactive experiences.

What are typical collaboration and workflow processes for Material Artists within a game development or VFX team?

Material Artists often work closely with environment artists, modelers, lighting artists, and technical artists to ensure that textures and materials integrate seamlessly into a project. Their daily tasks may involve creating, testing, and refining textures, responding to feedback, and attending team meetings to discuss visual direction and technical requirements. Collaboration is key, as Material Artists frequently exchange assets and coordinate with other departments to optimize performance and achieve the desired visual fidelity. This team-driven environment encourages creativity and allows Material Artists to continually develop their skills by learning from other specialists.
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Material Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Material Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 45% Full Time, 44% Part Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 89% In-person, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,541 per year, or $62.3 per hour.
Contract Advanced Material Artist

Contract Advanced Material Artist

Certain Affinity, Inc

Austin, TX • On-site, Remote

$125.90K - $150.70K/yr

Contractor

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Advanced Material Artist
Would you like to work on some of the greatest franchises in gaming history? What about working on our new original IP? Certain Affinity is the largest independent developer in Texas, based out of Austin, and we have a growing presence in Toronto, Canada. Our culture reflects the values and the vibrant nature of the cities we call home. This includes a commitment to evolution, diversity, excellence, and work-life balance. We are also excited to be the latest recipient of the Canadian Studio of the Year award. We're best known for co-developing numerous AAA FPS games, though now we are creating compelling new games of our own. We're always on the lookout for amazing talent to join our team.
As a Senior Material Artist at Certain Affinity, you will work with a small team of Material Artists to create highly detailed materials assets, including textures and masks, set up shaders, and maintain material libraries for the game environments and other world assets.
Responsibilities
  • Create physically-based Materials/Textures for use on props, environments, and characters with little oversight.
  • Assist in material library creation and maintaining material pipelines.
  • Collaborate with other artists to build and integrate assets into a visually consistent and highly immersive world.
  • Match established art styles while helping improve visual direction.
  • Mentor more junior artists on technique and process.

Requirements
  • Portfolio demonstrating a wide variety of materials using both procedural and 3d sculpted techniques, including tiled textures and 0-1 UV mapped assets. Assets must show strong attention to detail that focuses on believability and overall composition.
  • Solid technical understanding of PBR standards and surface/light interactions.
  • Driven to learn new workflows, technologies, and techniques.
  • Strong foundation knowledge in traditional arts.
  • Strong knowledge of Unreal Engine 5.
  • Very strong knowledge of Substance Designer and Substance Painter.
  • Strong knowledge of Maya and/or another 3D modeling package.
  • Good knowledge of Zbrush modeling.
  • Solid understanding of color theory and be able to create balanced and appealing color palettes.
  • Must be punctual, diligent, articulate, and organized.

Extra Credit
  • Experience leading other artists.
  • Shipped 2+ AAA titles as a material artist.
  • Experience using proprietary editors, software, and tools.

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