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Rigging Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

NxT Level

Technical Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$130K - $156K/yr

Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX ... Contribute to the unique product artistic vision holding high standards for aesthetics and ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · Hybrid

$122K - $146K/yr

The Senior CG Lighting Artist will focus mainly on facial performance replacement with a handoff to ... Understanding of CG modelling and rigging workflows. * Basic knowledge of texture mapping ...

Prisms VR

3D Artist (Remote)

San Francisco, CA · Remote

$110K - $140K/yr

As a 3D Artist, you will craft characters, environments, and educational 3D motion graphic ... Rigging and animating characters and props; * Retargeting character animation using mocap data;

Konami Gaming, Inc

Technical Artist III

Las Vegas, NV · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

Blending artistic and technical abilities, this role bridges the Art and Software teams, enabling ... Knowledge of 3D fundamentals: modeling, texturing/shading, rigging, animation, lighting, rendering.

Swaybox Studios

3D Tracking Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

The 3D Tracking / Matchmove Artist will focus on tracking environments and character features (such ... Working knowledge of rigging workflows, animation principles, and stylized performance-driven ...

Swaybox Studios

Senior CG Lighting Artist

New Orleans, LA · On-site

$122K - $146K/yr

The Senior CG Lighting Artist will focus mainly on facial performance replacement with a handoff to ... Understanding of CG modelling and rigging workflows. * Basic knowledge of texture mapping ...

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Rigging Artist information

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$11K

$47.8K

$72.5K

How much do rigging artist jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for rigging artist in the United States is $47,800.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $45,000.00 and $55,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much do rigging artists make?

Rigging artists typically earn between $50,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Skilled artists with proficiency in tools like Maya or Blender and a strong portfolio can earn higher salaries, especially in larger studios or competitive markets.

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

To thrive as a Rigging Artist, you need a solid understanding of anatomy, 3D modeling, and animation principles, typically supported by a degree in animation, computer graphics, or a related field. Proficiency with industry-standard tools like Autodesk Maya, Blender, and scripting languages such as Python or MEL is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for this role. These combined skills are crucial for creating robust, animation-ready rigs that ensure seamless character and prop movement in animation or visual effects projects.

What does a rigging artist do?

A Rigging Artist is responsible for creating the skeletal frameworks, controls, and deformers that allow 3D characters, objects, and creatures to move believably in animation and visual effects. They design rigs that enable animators to manipulate models efficiently while ensuring realistic movement and flexibility. This involves working with joints, constraints, and skin weights to maintain smooth deformations. Rigging Artists often collaborate with modelers and animators to troubleshoot issues and optimize rigs for performance. Their role is essential in bringing digital characters to life in films, games, and other media.

What are some typical challenges a rigging artist faces on a daily basis?

Rigging Artists frequently encounter the challenge of creating complex, adaptable rigs that enable animators to achieve a wide range of expressive movements without encountering technical issues. Balancing efficient rig performance with detailed deformations can require careful planning and lots of iteration. Additionally, Rigging Artists must often collaborate closely with both modelers and animators to ensure that rigs function smoothly within the broader pipeline. Overcoming these challenges requires strong technical skills, creativity, and clear communication to contribute effectively to the production team.

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Rigging Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rigging Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Temporary. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $47,800 per year, or $23 per hour.

Technical Artist

NxT Level

Chicago, IL • On-site, Remote

$130K - $156K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 18 days ago

Job description

Remote – US and Canada only

thatgamecompany designs and develops artistically crafted, broadly accessible video games that push the boundaries of interactive entertainment. We respect our players and want to contribute meaningful, enriching experiences that touch and inspire them.

We seek talent that values integrity and personal growth within an environment of intense collaboration and experimentation.

Our mission - create timeless entertainment that makes positive change to the human psyche worldwide. If you’ve been wanting to have a positive impact on people's lives and the creative challenges associated with doing something different and unique, then come help us shine brighter together.

Major Responsibilities

  • Work with engineering and art teams to develop custom shaders from scratch
  • Work across several art disciplines including shading, environment art, character art, animation and general art to support as the need arises.
  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Lead efforts in building foundational systems for art to establish scenes, animation, rigging, FX, and material tests.
  • Coordinate with art, technical, and studio leads to help build and maintain a high-performance art pipeline from creation to final package delivery.
  • Contribute to the unique product artistic vision holding high standards for aesthetics and technical art implementation.
  • Optimizing art content for performance.

Additional Responsibilities

  • Profile and optimize shaders and VFX for optimal performance across a wide range of target platforms.
  • Working in our proprietary engine, help to establish our material and vfx pipelines.
  • Document workflows and best practices for materials and vfx

Must-Haves

  • A good understanding of shaders (HLSL and/or GLSL) and ideally able to handle supporting c++ code for those prototypes or tools if required
  • Solid experience working with shader, materials and vfx in an industry standard or proprietary game engine
  • Experience implementing visual effects in an industry standard or proprietary Game Engine from concept to completion
  • Solid experience profiling and optimizing shaders and vfx on multiple platforms
  • 3-5 or more years experience as a Technical Artist
  • Must have 3 or more years experience with Maya and modern 3D art pipelines
  • Proven experience building tools for modern art pipeline with a solid understanding of game engine scripting (ex. Unity, Unreal, Proprietary Engine)
  • Portfolio demonstrating the technical artistic ability, with a focus on custom shaders and vfx
  • Self-motivated and diligent, with established habits for tracking one’s own tasks and seeking out answers when needed

Nice to Haves

  • Writing c++ code would be a plus
  • Knowing Mel, Python, Lua, C++, is a plus
  • Understanding of animation pipelines, including character and environment systems
  • Strong communication skills and a positive and professional attitude
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent years of experience in Computer Science, 3D graphics, or related field
  • Experience working with offsite art and programming teams

Perks:

  • Paid Time Off, Holidays and Two Weeks Winter Break
  • Employees and their dependents get medical, dental, and vision coverage, regardless of their level, tenure, or position within the company. Moreover, these benefits start on the first day of the job—there’s no waiting period before they kick in.
  • Pet Insurance for those who need it too.
  • Compassionate leave for employees who needs to take care of their family members
  • Pre-tax wellness stipend
  • Pre-tax work from home stipend
  • Access our savings plan (401K program) with company match
  • Mental health resources including Headspace membership and Employee Assistance Program (CCA)
  • Discount portal for everyday goods and services
  • Employee inclusive and diversity initiatives such as Grow Together
  • Support for personal professional development

Apply