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Puppeteer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

mybni

Kids on the Block Puppeteer

Erie, PA · On-site

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 ...

Info Way Solutions

Puppet Engineer

Fremont, CA · On-site

Info Way Solutions is seeking a Puppet Engineer to lead technical initiatives and manage configuration management at scale. The role involves designing, developing, and maintaining Puppet modules and ...

Deegit Inc

Puppet Engineer - RTP, NC

Durham, NC · On-site

Puppet Engineer Location: RTP, NC Duration: 6+ Months Contract 8+ years of DevOps/Systems Administration/Software Development experience 8+ years of experience working with various Linux ...

Sonsoft Inc

Puppet + DevOps

Manhattan, NV · On-site

$52.50 - $71.75/hr

Strong experience with automation/configuration management using Puppet, Chef or an equivalent - Good knowledge with Puppet, Puppet's declarative language to specify system configuration in Puppet ...

DevSelect

Sr. DevOpps Architect - Chef/Puppet

Bellevue, WA · On-site

$73.25 - $93.50/hr

Title: Sr. DevOpps Architect - Chef/Puppet Location: Seattle Area Openings: 1 Type: Contract or Contract-to-Hire Level: Senior Responsibilities * Provide business, data, application and technology ...

E*Pro, Inc.

Puppet Automation Engineers

Austin, TX · On-site

... to Puppet Development in Ruby, Perl, or Python Develop/extend Puppet modules for automating environment deployments and configuration management. Ability to work independently with very little ...

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, mascort, or Santa's Elf duties based on department needs, training, and qualifications. The position ...

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, mascort, or Santa's Elf duties based on department needs, training, and qualifications. The position ...

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Puppeteer information

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How much do puppeteer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average hourly pay for puppeteer in the United States is $21.37, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $25.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a puppeteer?

Puppeteers are skilled performers who manipulate puppets to entertain or educate audiences. They bring inanimate objects to life using their hands, strings, rods, or other mechanisms, often voicing characters and coordinating movement with storytelling. Puppeteers may work in theater, television, film, educational settings, or live events, and their performances can range from children’s shows to sophisticated adult productions. The craft requires creativity, dexterity, and sometimes collaboration with other artists and technicians.

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

To thrive as a Puppeteer, you need strong manual dexterity, creativity, and performance skills, often supported by theatre or performing arts training. Familiarity with puppet construction, stage equipment, and sometimes audio-visual systems is beneficial. Excellent communication, adaptability, and collaborative teamwork help a puppeteer engage audiences and work effectively with directors and other performers. These abilities are crucial for delivering captivating performances and ensuring seamless productions in live or recorded settings.

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

Professional puppeteers often encounter challenges such as synchronizing their movements seamlessly with dialogue and music, handling technical malfunctions with puppets or stage equipment, and adapting to unexpected changes during live shows. They must maintain character consistency while also staying attuned to cues from fellow performers and backstage crew. Flexibility, quick problem-solving, and strong communication skills are essential for overcoming these hurdles and delivering a compelling performance.

What is the difference between Puppeteer vs Web Developer?

AspectPuppeteerWeb Developer
Primary RoleAutomates browser tasks and web scrapingDesigns, develops, and maintains websites and web applications
Skills & CertificationsJavaScript, Node.js, automation scriptingHTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks, backend skills
Work EnvironmentTech companies, QA/testing teams, automation projectsWeb development firms, agencies, in-house IT teams

While Puppeteer specializes in browser automation and web scraping, Web Developers focus on creating and maintaining websites. Puppeteer is a tool used within the web development process or testing, whereas Web Developers are responsible for building the actual web products. Both roles often collaborate but serve different functions in the web industry.

How much money do puppeteers make?

Puppeteers' salaries vary based on experience, location, and the type of employment. According to industry data, they typically earn between $20,000 and $70,000 annually, with those working in television, theater, or with specialized skills earning higher wages. Many puppeteers supplement income through freelance work, workshops, or teaching opportunities.
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Puppeteer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Puppeteer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 7% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,441 per year, or $21.4 per hour.

Kids on the Block Puppeteer

mybni

Erie, PA • On-site

Full-time

Posted 11 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