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Professional Puppeteer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

mybni

Kids on the Block Puppeteer

Erie, PA · On-site

Puppeteers represent Family Focus Services professionally while helping to deliver powerful, positive messages to children and the community. An in-person team practice is scheduled almost every week ...

E*Pro, Inc.

Puppet Automation Engineers

Austin, TX · On-site

Pro Consulting service offerings include contingent Staff Augmentation of IT professionals ... Puppet Development in Ruby, Perl, or Python Develop/extend Puppet modules for automating ...

SPSV ENTERTAINMENT LLC

Mascots and Puppeteers

Skyforest, CA · On-site

$16.90 - $17/hr

Performers may portray year-round or seasonal characters and may be assigned to mascot, puppeteer ... Character & Professional Conduct * Maintain character while performing and interacting with guests ...

Casa Bonita

Roaming Cast (Puppeteers)

Lakewood, CO · On-site

$23/hr

Handle guest photos and meet-and-greet moments professionally and efficiently * Log any costume ... Puppeteer * Prior experience with various puppetry styles, including trigger, rod, and Avenue Q ...

Jobsbridge

Sr. Puppet Devops Engineer

Pennington, NJ · On-site

$131K - $168K/yr

Company Description Jobs Bridge Inc is among the fastest growing IT staffing / professional ... Strong knowledge of infrastructure automation tools (Puppet, Chef, VCAC). Prior consulting ...

Jobsbridge

DevOps Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$61.75 - $84.75/hr

T staffing and professional services company specializing in Web, Cloud & Mobility staffing ... Qualifications AWS,Puppet,Chef,Jenkins Additional Information Only GC/Citizen

Jobsbridge

DevOps Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$62 - $84.75/hr

T staffing and professional services company specializing in Web, Cloud & Mobility staffing ... Puppet, Chef, Ancible, or Jenkins or similar products; with a preference for Puppet Be ...

CACI

Linux Systems Administrator

Hampton, VA · On-site

$75K - $158K/yr

Minimum of two year's DCGS experience Relevant certification (e.g., RHCE, Puppet Certified Professional, Linux Essentials) are a plus. Experience with one or more of the following technologies: YUM ...

CACI

Linux Systems Administrator

Hampton, VA · On-site

$75K - $158K/yr

Minimum of two year's DCGS experience Relevant certification (e.g., RHCE, Puppet Certified Professional, Linux Essentials) are a plus. Experience with one or more of the following technologies: YUM ...

Jobsbridge

DevOps Engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

$61.75 - $84.75/hr

T staffing and professional services company specializing in Web, Cloud & Mobility staffing ... BASH, Python, Perl * Config Mgmt: Ansible, Puppet, Chef * Binary Repository Manager - Nexus ...

Jobsbridge

DevOps Engineer

Atlanta, GA · On-site

$50.75 - $69.50/hr

T staffing and professional services company specializing in Web, Cloud & Mobility staffing ... BASH, Python, Perl * Config Mgmt: Ansible, Puppet, Chef * Binary Repository Manager - Nexus ...

Jobsbridge

Hadoop Administrator

Greensboro, NC · On-site

Company Description Jobs Bridge Inc is among the fastest growing IT staffing / professional ... Supporting Hortonworks HDP Knowledge of Linux automation tools such as Puppet or Chef Configuring ...

Intelliswift - An LTTS Company

Dev ops Manager SubCon

Austin, TX · On-site

$16.50 - $20.50/hr

... professional software development experience • At least 2 to 3 years of extensive experience in hybrid Cloud + on-prem, Oracle Linux, CentOS, Puppet, Ansible, project management for French Ben • ...

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Professional Puppeteer information

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How much do professional puppeteer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for professional puppeteer in the United States is $23.49, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.90 and $25.48 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a professional puppeteer?

Professional puppeteers are artists who use puppets to entertain, educate, or inform audiences through live performances, television, film, or digital media. They master various techniques to manipulate puppets, such as hand, rod, string, or shadow puppetry, bringing characters to life with voice work, movement, and storytelling. Professional puppeteers may work in theaters, schools, television studios, or for special events, often collaborating with writers, directors, and other performers to create engaging productions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a professional puppeteer?

To thrive as a Professional Puppeteer, you need strong manual dexterity, creativity, and a solid understanding of performance arts, often supported by training in puppetry or theater. Familiarity with various puppet types, stage equipment, and sometimes audio-visual technology is typically required. Outstanding communication, storytelling ability, and improvisational skills help make performances engaging and memorable. These abilities are crucial for captivating audiences, adapting to live situations, and delivering high-quality, expressive shows.

What are some common challenges faced by professional puppeteers during live performances?

Professional puppeteers often encounter challenges such as synchronizing movements with dialogue, managing multiple puppets at once, and adapting to unexpected technical issues during live shows. They must maintain character consistency while operating complex mechanisms, sometimes in physically demanding positions for extended periods. Collaboration with stage crew, voice actors, and other puppeteers is essential to ensure smooth performances and quick problem-solving when unforeseen issues arise.

What is the difference between Professional Puppeteer vs Stage Puppeteer?

AspectProfessional PuppeteerStage Puppeteer
CredentialsOften requires specialized training or certifications in puppetryMay have formal training but often relies on experience and skill
Work EnvironmentFilm, television, commercial productions, often in controlled settingsTheatrical stage performances, live audiences, theaters
Employer & IndustryFilm studios, TV networks, commercial companiesTheater companies, puppet theaters, live performance venues

Professional Puppeteers typically work in film and television, focusing on controlled environments and specialized skills, while Stage Puppeteers perform live in theaters, emphasizing theatrical presentation and audience interaction. Both roles require puppetry skills but differ mainly in setting and production type.

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Professional Puppeteer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Professional Puppeteer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $48,849 per year, or $23.5 per hour.

Kids on the Block Puppeteer

mybni

Erie, PA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Overview:

As a Puppeteer with the Kids on the Block program at the Barber National Institute, you’ll join a dedicated troupe that educates and raises awareness about disabilities through engaging puppet performances at schools and community events. By bringing characters to life, you will help foster empathy, inclusion, and understanding in a creative and interactive format.

This is a public-facing role requiring comfort with performance, teamwork, and flexibility. Puppeteers represent Family Focus Services professionally while helping to deliver powerful, positive messages to children and the community.

An in-person team practice is scheduled almost every week, typically on Tuesday or Wednesday.

What You’ll Bring:

  • Comfort performing in front of diverse audiences
  • Creativity in bringing inanimate objects to life with voice, movement, and personality
  • Flexibility to adjust performances based on audience engagement or technical issues
  • Ability to work collaboratively with other puppeteers, directors, and staff
  • Reliability in traveling to venues and maintaining performance schedules
  • Care and responsibility in handling, maintaining, and storing assigned puppets    

What You’ll Have:

  • Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
  • Experience in theater, performance, or working with children is a plus, but not required

A Typical Day May Include:

  • Learning and accurately performing your assigned puppet character
  • Attending rehearsals and training to ensure quality performances
  • Traveling with the troupe to schools, community centers, and other venues
  • Delivering interactive and educational performances to children and community groups
  • Maintaining communication with the Kids on the Block coordinator regarding scheduling or availability
  • Caring for your assigned puppet between performances and using it only for approved program activities
  • Representing the Barber National Institute professionally at all events

Apply