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Video Game Character Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

3D Character Art Lead

$153K - $230K/yr

Your efforts will exhilarate players and elevate the setting and tone for a new standard in PlayStation games. As a leader for the character art team, you'll demonstrate a balance of artistic ...

To ensure a cohesive look across the project you will partner with the Character Art and Tech Art teams as well as other concept artists, and explore the realization of gameplay paces with the Design ...

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

To ensure a cohesive look across the project you will partner with the Character Art and Tech Art teams as well as other concept artists, and explore the realization of gameplay paces with the Design ...

Senior Concept Artist (Characters)

Novato, CA ยท On-site

$100K - $148K/yr

To ensure a cohesive look across the project you will partner with the Character Art and Tech Art teams as well as other concept artists, and explore the realization of gameplay paces with the Design ...

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustardformer Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC ยท On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC

$123K - $147K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

Technical Artist, Character

Raleigh, NC ยท On-site

$123K - $147K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustardformer Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

Technical Artist, Character

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$90K - $110K/yr

... Prime Video's visceral thriller The Bluff and the global Citadel franchise. Citadel Season 2 ... In 2023, AGBO welcomed Donald Mustard-former Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games and co-creator of ...

Apply now and lead our character art team as the Lead Character Artist with Absurd Ventures. The ... video games and other interactive content; books, graphic novels, and scripted podcasts.

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Video Game Design Tutor

SD ยท Remote

$40/hr

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

What We Look For In a Video Game Design Tutor * Advanced Subject Mastery: Deep knowledge of game ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

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Video Game Character Artist information

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How much do video game character artist jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game character artist in the United States is $15.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.46 and $18.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Video Game Character Artist do?

A Video Game Character Artist is responsible for designing and creating the visual appearance of characters in video games. They use artistic skills and 3D modeling software to bring characters to life, ensuring they fit the game's style and technical requirements. Their work involves concept art, sculpting, texturing, and sometimes rigging characters for animation. Collaboration with other team members, like animators and game designers, is common to ensure characters move and behave realistically within the game. This role requires both creativity and technical proficiency.

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

AspectVideo Game Character Artist3D Modeler
Required SkillsConcept art, character design, anatomy, texturingModeling, texturing, UV mapping, software proficiency
Work EnvironmentGame studios, freelance, collaborative teamsGame studios, animation, film, freelance
Industry UsagePrimarily in gaming, entertainmentGaming, film, animation industries

While both roles involve 3D skills, a Video Game Character Artist focuses on designing and conceptualizing characters, emphasizing artistic style and anatomy. A 3D Modeler specializes in creating detailed 3D models based on designs, often working from concept art. Both roles require proficiency in similar software and often overlap, but their primary focus differs: artistic creation versus technical modeling.

What are some common challenges faced by video game character artists when collaborating with other departments?

Video game character artists often work closely with animators, technical artists, and game designers, which can present challenges in maintaining both artistic vision and technical constraints. Aligning the character's look and feel with gameplay requirements or animation limitations may require frequent adjustments and effective communication. Additionally, ensuring that character models are optimized for performance without sacrificing quality is a recurring challenge, especially when adapting to changing project needs or feedback from other teams.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Video Game Character Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Video Game Character Artist, you need strong artistic ability in anatomy, form, and color theory, supported by a portfolio and often a relevant degree in art or design. Expertise with industry-standard 3D modeling and sculpting software such as Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for collaborating with diverse teams and meeting creative briefs. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling, believable characters that enhance the player's immersive experience and contribute to a game's success.
More about Video Game Character Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Video Game Character Artist jobs? Cities with the most Video Game Character Artist job openings:
What states have the most Video Game Character Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Video Game Character Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Video Game Character Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Video Game Character Artist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Video Game Character Artist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 46% Full Time, 48% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 87% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $31,769 per year, or $15.3 per hour.
3D Character Art Lead

3D Character Art Lead

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE)

Phoenix, AZ โ€ข On-site, Remote

$153K - $230K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago


Job description

Are you driven to create games that engage players in a vibrant community? Would you like to contribute to a visually stunning world where art not only captivates but reinforces the mission of the game? Do you have a passion for how 3D character art enhances gameplay clarity, supporting players in making split-second decisions, and how character design can ignite both fandom and strategic depth? Join us at teamLFG!

As the 3D Character Art Lead at teamLFG, you will guide and help create art with the team from pre-production to production and beyond on our innovative new IP!

Your leadership will shape memorable characters that uphold gameplay fairness and clarity. You'll mentor your team with your extensive experience and keen eye for detail, ensuring every art decision enhances the gameplay space. Your efforts will exhilarate players and elevate the setting and tone for a new standard in PlayStation games.

As a leader for the character art team, you'll demonstrate a balance of artistic expertise with a player-first mindset, stretching beyond your role as you collaborate with a passionate, cross-discipline team dedicated to having a positive impact on players as we bring this new world to life.

We seek candidates who appreciate being part of a cohesive and supportive team with a wide array of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and perspectives.

Responsibilities:

Lead 3D character art and coordinate work with a multidisciplinary team accountable for character-building, including but not limited to narrative and design

Mentor and inspire a talented team of artists through all phases of production

Foster a safe culture for growth, feedback and coaching to encourage strong creative debate

Create strong processes and scalable art workflows that force multiply the team's efforts and define a high art quality bar, internally and externally with partner studios

Inspire and motivate the team with craft and process advisement

Embrace "we" culture in addition to being an outstanding collaborator and communicator

Develop internal and external style guides and workflows, and manage teams through creation of game assets

Be accountable to the art director visual goals and directions

Required Skills:

Deep understanding of the character art decisions that matter to competitive players in action or fighting games

Proven experience in early AAA game development leadership role(s)

Experience in leading art teams that include but not limited to 3D character art, character customization, NPC

Demonstrated skills and deep understanding of stylized art and style adaptability

Expert knowledge in Maya, Blender or Max, Substance

Expert knowledge in Unreal Engine

Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving capability with high attention to detail

Strategic and critical thinking skills with a proactive, investigative mindset

Help created or established character customization in Unreal and scaled content with outsourcing companies

Nice-to-have Skills:

Platformer genre development experience

Experience working on a game with a high angle isometric camera perspective

Experience leading multiple teams on a live game ("game as a service")

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role's base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.
Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.
In addition, this role is eligible for SIE's top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.

This is a flexible role that can be remote, with varying pay ranges based on geographic location. For example, if you are based out of Seattle, the estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$153,000-$230,000 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to ourCandidate Privacy Noticefor more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.