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Temporary 3D Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Character Artist

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70 - $110/hr

What to expect We're looking for a character artist to help define how LeLamp looks, moves, and ... Have a portfolio that shows character design or expressive design work, in 2D or 3D. * Document ...

Expression of Interest - Character Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$130K - $136K/yr

The Character Artist will be responsible for creating highly realistic and expressive character ... This is a temporary position with the possibility of extension based on project needs. * This is an ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

Lead Character Artist

Novato, CA · On-site

$150K - $180K/yr

As a Lead Character Artist at Cloud Chamber, under the supervision of the Art Director, you will ... Expert proficiency in 3D creation tools including 3ds Max, Maya, ZBrush, Substance Painter ...

$69.79 - $95.38/hr

... Unreal Animation Artist at Serviceplan Group, you are the bridge between static 3D models and ... Work closely with character/prop rigging tools, utilize Control Rig within Unreal Engine, and ...

Showing results 21-40

Temporary 3D Character Artist information

See salary details

$104.5K

$120.5K

$128.5K

How much do temporary 3d character artist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for temporary 3d character artist in the United States is $120,531.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,000.00 and $127,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a temporary 3D character artist?

Temporary 3D Character Artists are professionals hired on a short-term or project basis to design and create three-dimensional character models for use in video games, films, animations, or other digital media. They use specialized software to sculpt, texture, and rig characters, ensuring they are visually appealing and ready for animation. These artists typically collaborate with other team members, such as animators and game developers, to meet project deadlines and artistic requirements. Their contracts may last for several weeks or months, depending on the scope and needs of the project.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a temporary 3D character artist?

To thrive as a Temporary 3D Character Artist, you need strong artistic abilities in anatomy, modeling, texturing, and a portfolio demonstrating proficiency in 3D character creation. Expertise in industry-standard software like Autodesk Maya, ZBrush, and Adobe Substance Painter is typically required. Attention to detail, creativity, and the ability to collaborate and adapt quickly to project needs are standout soft skills. These skills ensure high-quality character assets are delivered efficiently, meeting both creative and technical requirements within tight timelines.

What types of projects and team dynamics can a temporary 3D character artist expect during their contract?

As a Temporary 3D Character Artist, you'll typically be brought on to help meet project deadlines or provide specialized skills for specific game or animation projects. You can expect to work closely with concept artists, animators, and technical artists, often as part of a fast-paced, collaborative team. Most of your daily tasks will involve creating, refining, and optimizing character models based on provided concepts, while also integrating feedback from leads and art directors. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial, as project requirements may shift quickly, and you'll need to efficiently manage your time to deliver high-quality assets within tight timelines.

What is the difference between Temporary 3D Character Artist vs 3D Modeler?

AspectTemporary 3D Character Artist3D Modeler
Primary FocusCreating detailed character models and textures for projectsModeling various objects, environments, or characters
Skills & ToolsCharacter anatomy, rigging, texturing, software like ZBrush, MayaHard surface modeling, topology, software like Blender, 3ds Max
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation, film production, often on a contract basisGame studios, VFX, product design, freelance or in-house roles

While both roles involve 3D modeling, a Temporary 3D Character Artist specializes in creating and texturing character models, often for entertainment projects, whereas a 3D Modeler has a broader focus on modeling various objects and environments. The roles share similar skills and tools but differ in their specific focus areas and project types.

What cities are hiring for Temporary 3D Character Artist jobs?

Cities with the most Temporary 3D Character Artist job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of 3D Character Artist jobs?

The most popular types of 3D Character Artist jobs are:

What states have the most Temporary 3D Character Artist jobs?

States with the most job openings for Temporary 3D Character Artist jobs include:

Senior Character Artist (Contingent)

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA • On-site

$135K - $142K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Job description

This position is for temporary engagement through our staffing partner, Yoh Enterprise Solutions.  Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States for this position.

This is a hybrid / onsite position.  

For nearly 40 years, Naughty Dog has been crafting best-selling, critically acclaimed games that constantly push the boundaries of narrative, gameplay, and technology. Naughty Dog recently released The Last of Us Part II Remastered as well as a current generation remake of The Last of Us Part I for the PS5. We're also proud to say that The Last of Us Part I and Part II are now available for the first time on PC. Currently, we're busy at the kennel working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and we'd love to find talented individuals to join us!

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention to detail. We are committed to innovation within our games and as such have curated some of the top creative and technically innovative minds in the industry. We welcome diverse candidates and believe that a broad range of cultural and life experiences contribute to the overall well-being and success of the studio and the titles we craft together.

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to join our team in creating the next generation of award-winning story telling! We are looking for an artist who can help create characters, creatures AND develop pipelines that help streamline and push boundaries to create compelling characters that fit seamlessly within the narrative-driven worlds we build. By working alongside other departments and disciplines to inform, inspire, collaborate and develop artistic solutions to technical obstacles, you'll help ensure our character pipeline is at the forefront of AAA development. 

What you will do: 

  • Work with artists, technical artists, and engineers to design, implement and maintain new workflows that will help streamline and enhance our tools, shaders, and processes
  • Use provided concept art and references to create highly detailed character and creature models 
  • Create high poly models, UVs, in game topology and textures to ensure high quality in game characters that work within our technical constraints, while also looking for areas to develop and push past our current boundaries
  • Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game Maintain a clear and consistent workflow under an established schedule Work closely to FX and Lighting artists to create characters that meet artistic and technical requirements 
  • Provide direction to character artists for aesthetic and technical considerations 
  • Work closely with the Tool and Engine Team to develop new or improve upon old techniques to improve character model quality 
  • Work closely with Leads, Principals and Directors to keep quality and style consistent across all characters 
  • Help document new and existing pipelines to streamline processes for internal and external artists
  • Act as a power user to evaluate and demo new software and tools from 3rd party developers for the character pipeline 

What skills will you use:

  • Highly skilled at working with and defining standards for PBR materials, topology, and in game character pipelines 
  • Experience developing shaders with technical artists and programmers 
  • Intermediate knowledge of python scripting, not required, but a plus 
  • Highly skilled at sculpting, modeling, texturing, shading characters and assets for games
  • High level knowledge of hair curve and card creation for next gen games 
  • Keen eye to form, lighting, colors and composition 
  • Very strong portfolio showing high quality characters 
  • At least 5 years of experience as a character artist, working on at least one AAA title 

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