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Senior 2D Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Arrow International, Inc.

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL

$130K - $156K/yr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Arrow International, Inc

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Arrow International Inc

Senior Artist

Chicago, IL · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

The Senior Artist will use their artistic expertise with color, composition, shape, typography ... Create and animate high-quality 2D game assets and VFX. * Ensure timely delivery of assets to meet ...

Bellota Labs

Senior Technical Artist

$130K - $155K/yr

They are seeking a Senior Technical Artist to bridge the gap between artistic vision and technical ... Import, configure, and maintain 2D/3D assets, materials, and shaders within Unity3D for mobile and ...

SciPlay

Senior Technical Artist

Austin, TX

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Senior Technical Artist acts as aresource within the art team, mentoring other ... Create 2D assets for all aspects of the product including UI, composition, VFX, and animations

SciPlay

Senior Technical Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

Position Summary The Senior Technical Artist acts as a resource within the art team, mentoring ... Create 2D assets for all aspects of the product including UI, composition, VFX, and animations

Bellota Labs

Senior Technical Artist

Redwood City, CA · On-site +1

$170K - $225K/yr

As a Technical Artist, you'll collaborate closely with designers, 3D artists, and frontend ... Import, configure, and maintain 2D/3D assets, materials, and shaders within Unity3D for mobile and ...

Bellota Labs

Senior Technical Artist

Redwood City, CA

$170K - $225K/yr

As a Technical Artist, you'll collaborate closely with designers, 3D artists, and frontend ... Import, configure, and maintain 2D/3D assets, materials, and shaders within Unity3D for mobile and ...

Bellota Labs

Senior Technical Artist

Redwood City, CA · Remote

$170K - $225K/yr

As a Technical Artist, you'll collaborate closely with designers, 3D artists, and frontend ... Import, configure, and maintain 2D/3D assets, materials, and shaders within Unity3D for mobile and ...

Zynga

Senior Marketing Artist

Austin, TX · On-site

$87K - $128K/yr

The Senior Marketing Artist should be able to deliver high quality, engaging designs & videos ... Proven expertise in motion graphics and 2D animation to create scroll-stopping video ads. * Solid ...

INSPYR Solutions

VFX Artist III

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$69.26 - $85.41/hr

As a Senior Real-Time VFX Artist, you will work closely with animators, artists, and designers to ... Flex your mastery of 2D and 3D workflows to enhance your in-engine work. * Be comfortable thinking ...

INSPYR Solutions

VFX Artist III

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$69.26 - $85.41/hr

As a Senior Real-Time VFX Artist, you will work closely with animators, artists, and designers to ... Flex your mastery of 2D and 3D workflows to enhance your in-engine work. * Be comfortable thinking ...

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Senior 2D Artist information

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$30.5K

$129.5K

$152.5K

How much do senior 2d artist jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior 2d 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 are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Senior 2D Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior 2D Artist, you need advanced skills in drawing, painting, composition, and color theory, typically supported by a strong portfolio and relevant art or design qualifications. Mastery of industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and digital tablets is essential, and experience with asset management systems is often required. Creativity, attention to detail, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills. These abilities ensure high-quality visual assets, efficient workflow, and successful alignment with project goals in dynamic creative environments.

What are Senior 2D Artists?

Senior 2D Artists are experienced professionals who create high-quality visual content, such as illustrations, concept art, character designs, and environments for video games, animation, films, and other media. They often lead or mentor junior artists, help define the visual style of a project, and ensure the artwork meets both technical and artistic standards. Senior 2D Artists collaborate closely with art directors, game designers, and other team members to bring creative visions to life.

What are some common challenges Senior 2D Artists face when collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on large projects?

Senior 2D Artists often work closely with game designers, animators, and developers, making effective communication essential to ensure artistic vision aligns with technical requirements. A common challenge is balancing creative ideas with project constraints like deadlines and platform limitations. Additionally, adapting to feedback from various stakeholders while maintaining consistency in the visual style can be demanding. Senior 2D Artists are expected to mentor junior team members and help establish best practices, which requires strong leadership and adaptability.

How much do 2D artists make?

Senior 2D artists typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions generally start lower, while specialized skills in digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator can increase earning potential.

Are 2D artists in demand?

Senior 2D artists are in demand in industries such as gaming, animation, and advertising, where strong skills in digital illustration and proficiency with tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are valued. The demand for 2D artists depends on industry trends, project needs, and the ability to adapt to new technologies and styles.

Will AI replace illustrators?

AI technology can assist senior 2D artists by automating repetitive tasks and generating initial concepts, but it is unlikely to fully replace skilled illustrators. Human creativity, artistic judgment, and understanding of client needs remain essential in producing high-quality, original artwork. Many artists use AI as a tool to enhance their workflow rather than as a replacement.

What is the difference between Senior 2D Artist vs 2D Animator?

AspectSenior 2D Artist2D Animator
Primary FocusCreating detailed 2D artwork, illustrations, and visual assets for projectsProducing animated sequences, character movements, and visual effects
Skills & CertificationsProficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and design principlesSkills in After Effects, Toon Boom, and animation techniques
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, game companies, advertising agenciesAnimation studios, game development, multimedia production
Industry UsageUsed in game art, concept art, and visual designUsed in animation, film, and game cutscenes

While both roles require strong artistic skills and familiarity with digital tools, a Senior 2D Artist primarily focuses on creating static visual assets, whereas a 2D Animator specializes in bringing characters and scenes to life through movement and animation techniques.

What kind of jobs in media bring in $150,000 a year?

Senior 2D Artists in media, especially those with extensive experience, advanced skills in industry-standard tools like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, and a strong portfolio, can reach or exceed $150,000 annually, particularly in senior or lead roles within large companies or specialized agencies. High earning potential is often associated with roles that involve complex project management, high-profile clients, or working in competitive markets.
More about Senior 2D Artist jobs
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Senior 2D Artist jobs near you
Senior Illustration Artist - League of Legends, Splash Team

Senior Illustration Artist - League of Legends, Splash Team

Riot Games

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

As part of the Illustration team, you'll put stylus to Cintiq and create promotional art that represents the essence of a Champion, thematic, or gameplay to millions of players. You will use your artistic eye and experience with dynamic lighting, form, and color to tell concise and evocative stories. By working with a team of dedicated illustrators, visual designers, writers, animators, and game developers, you will help decide and illustrate each character's unique place in our universe
As a Senior Splash Illustration Artist for the League of Legends Splash Illustration team your craft expertise and eye for illustration will help deliver deep engagement and rich fantasy worlds to our players. You will be a key member of your discipline community, supporting the craft and execution across the whole splash team by mentoring teammates and cultivating excellence. You will produce illustrations at the highest quality bar, at times raising or redefining what good looks like. You will partner with the Producer, Art Manager and Craft Lead to support team rituals, art direction and product cohesion on a variety of illustrations for Skins and Champions.
Responsibilities:
  • Consistently solid craft executor of high-quality 2D Splash Illustrations with minimum oversight.
  • Assist in driving the quality of the team's work and set the bar for excellence.
  • Maintaining the illustration quality and mentoring our vendors by participating in review meetings and providing constructive feedback to external art teams.
  • Mentoring and coaching artists in creating high end Splash illustrations and developing their art skills.
  • Sharing of craft expertise and knowledge through discipline, community, mentorship and art collaboration.
  • Support team leadership through style guide creation, participating and assisting in team rituals, identifying areas for improvement and consistent feedback.

Required Qualifications:
  • 5+ years of industry experience as a 2D Artist/Illustrator
  • Showcase ability to create high quality 2D Splash Illustrations
  • Extreme proficiency in art fundamentals, visual storytelling, anatomy, lighting, materials and color theory
  • Expertise in Splash Style including stylized anatomy, heroic compositions and cinematic/realistic believability
  • Advanced experience creating high end digital art assets in Adobe Photoshop
  • Highly experienced with 2D Illustration Asset production pipelines, and showing a strong ability of driving illustrations for the thumbnails to the final state.
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills in working in a team environment and collaborating with different disciplines.

Desired Qualifications:
  • Experience owning and effectively communicating about projects and workflow
  • AAA Game Development experience
  • Familiarity with League of Legends Characters, IP Universes and Lore

As a part of the application process, candidates will be expected to provide a portfolio of their work.
For this role, you'll find success through craft expertise, a collaborative spirit, and decision-making that prioritizes the delight of players. We will be looking at your past studies, experience, and your personal relationship with games. If you embody player empathy and care about players' experiences, this could be your role!
Our Perks:
Riot focuses on work/life balance, shown by our open paid time off policy and other perks such as flexible work schedules. We offer medical, dental, and life insurance, parental leave for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and children, and a 401k with company match. Check out our benefits pages for more information.
At Riot Games, we put players first . That mission drives every decision in our quest to create games and experiences that make it better to be a player. Whether you're working directly on a new player-facing experience or you're supporting the company as a whole, everyone at Riot is part of our mission. And just like in our games, we're better when we work together. Our goal is to create collaborative teams where you are empowered to bring your unique perspective everyday. If that sounds like the kind of place you want to work, we're looking forward to your application.
It's our policy to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and members of Riot Games, Inc. Riot Games makes reasonable accommodations for handicapped and disabled Rioters and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, handicap, veteran status, marital status, criminal history, or any other category protected by applicable federal and state law. We consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including the California Fair Chance Act, the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Washington Fair Chance Act.
Per the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the following core duties may create a basis for disqualifying candidates with relevant criminal histories:
  • Safeguarding confidential and sensitive Company data
  • Communication with others, including Rioters and third parties such as vendors, and/or players, including minors
  • Accessing Company assets, secure digital systems, and networks
  • Ensuring a safe interactive environment for players and other Rioters

These duties are directly related to essential operations, safety, trust, and compliance obligations within our organization. Please note that job duties may evolve based on business needs and additional responsibilities may be assigned as necessary to maintain operational efficiency and security.
  • (Los Angeles Only) Base salary range between $150,000.00 - $209,600.00 USD + incentive compensation + equity + 401K with company match + medical, dental, vision, and life insurance + short and long-term disability + open PTO.
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About Riot Games

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it's for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2006

Social media

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