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Video Game Character Design Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game Maintain a ...

New

Naughty Dog

Senior Character Artist

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$69.09 - $86.35/hr

The Character Art team is looking for a highly technical and artistic Senior Character Artist to ... Monitor the needs of rigging, animation, and design to ensure clear characters in game • Maintain ...

New

Naughty Dog

Producer

Santa Monica, CA

$139K - $141K/yr

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention ... Solid understanding of video game development, software development processes, and project ...

Netflix

Executive Producer, Mainstream Games

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$133K - $135K/yr

Expertly assess milestones, reviewing and evaluating game builds across design, creative ... Qualifications: * 15+ years of experience in Video Game Production, preferably in both Publishing ...

Netflix

Executive Producer, Mainstream Games

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$133K - $135K/yr

Expertly assess milestones, reviewing and evaluating game builds across design, creative ... Qualifications: * 15+ years of experience in Video Game Production, preferably in both Publishing ...

Naughty Dog

Producer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$64.47 - $80.58/hr

Naughty Dog games have long been lauded for their evocative, character-driven stories and attention ... Solid understanding of video game development, software development processes, and project ...

TrueShort

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Familiarity with AI video-generation workflows is a plus (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway, etc ... character, prop, or environment design work * Optional: links to any animation, film, game, or ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops ... Design hand-keyed animation with a highly intuitive and developed understanding of body mechanics ...

Ten4

Senior Gaming Animator

Redwood City, CA · On-site

$129K - $148K/yr

Ten4 works with some of the best ad agencies, start-ups, production studios, and video game shops ... Design hand-keyed animation with a highly intuitive and developed understanding of body mechanics ...

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All JobsVideo Game Character Design JobsVideo Game Character Design Jobs in California

Video Game Character Design information

See California salary details

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

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game character design in California is $18.31, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.59 and $19.90 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in video game character design, and why are they important?

To excel in Video Game Character Design, a strong background in art, anatomy, and concept visualization is essential, often supported by a degree in game design, fine arts, or a related field. Designers typically use industry-standard tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, ZBrush, Maya, and game engines like Unity or Unreal; relevant certifications can add value. Collaboration, creativity, and the ability to communicate feedback constructively are vital soft skills in this role. These competencies ensure the creation of engaging character designs that align with a game's vision and development pipelines.

How much do video game character designers make?

Video game character designers typically earn between $50,000 and $90,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level designers may start lower, while experienced professionals or those working on AAA titles can earn higher salaries, often supplemented with benefits and bonuses.

What is a video game character design?

A Video Game Character Design job involves creating the visual appearance, personality, and overall concept of characters in a video game. Designers work closely with game developers, artists, and writers to ensure that characters fit within the game's world and story. This includes designing costumes, facial expressions, animations, and sometimes even backstories. Strong skills in illustration, 3D modeling, and an understanding of human anatomy and movement are essential for this role.

How to be a video game character designer?

A video game character designer creates characters for video games by developing concepts, sketches, and 3D models using tools like Photoshop and Blender. They typically have skills in art, anatomy, storytelling, and familiarity with game engines, often requiring a portfolio and relevant education or training in art or game design.

How hard is it to get a job in video game character design?

Getting a job in video game character design typically requires a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills, proficiency in design software like Photoshop or ZBrush, and relevant education or training. Competition can be high, and building industry experience through internships or freelance work can improve chances of employment.

What does a typical day look like for someone working in video game character design?

A typical day for a Video Game Character Designer involves collaborating with art directors, concept artists, and developers to develop and refine character ideas. You might spend time sketching initial concepts, modeling characters in 3D software, and integrating feedback from playtesters or team members. Regular meetings and reviews are common, as character designs often evolve throughout a project's development cycle. This role requires balancing creativity with technical constraints, ensuring your designs enhance the game's narrative and player experience. The collaborative environment also means you'll frequently coordinate with other departments to ensure consistency and feasibility.

What are popular job titles related to Video Game Character Design jobs in California? For Video Game Character Design jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Video Game Character Design jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Video Game Character Design jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Video Game Character Design jobs? Cities in California with the most Video Game Character Design job openings:
Video Game Character Design jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Character Design job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, 44% Full Time, 39% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $38,094 per year, or $18.3 per hour.

Senior Character Artist

Naughty Dog

Santa Monica, CA

$135K - $142K/yr

Other

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

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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