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Video Game Concept Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist -- the creative brain ... You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA

$136K - $157K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain ... You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll : sketched out ...

Airrack

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain ... You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll: sketched out ...

The Walt Disney Company

Senior Concept Artist

$112K - $154K/yr

Senior Concept Artist Req ID: 10157163 ESPN is seeking a highly imaginative and versatile Senior ... video editing, motion design, animation, live action, digital, social, and experiential work.

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Alexandria, VA · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Norwalk, CT · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Des Plaines, IL · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design ... Emphasizes the iterative design process and connects game design to computer science, visual arts ...

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Video Game Concept Artist information

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

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for video game concept 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 concept artist do?

A Video Game Concept Artist is responsible for creating the initial visual designs and illustrations that define the look and feel of characters, environments, props, and other elements in a video game. They work closely with game designers, art directors, and other team members to translate ideas and written descriptions into compelling visuals. Their artwork serves as a guide for 3D modelers, animators, and other artists throughout the game's development process. Concept artists help establish the game's visual style and mood, ensuring consistency and creativity across all assets.

What does a video game concept artist do?

As a video game concept artist, you sketch various visual elements for video games, such as character models, character clothing, background scenery, objects, and menus. You may follow requests to design graphics that fit with the director's vision, provide notes for future animation, and adjust concepts based on factors like the amount of lighting in the scene. Video game concept artists produce both 2D and 3D art as needed. This is a primarily creative job, and video game concept artists frequently create multiple concepts for other staff members to choose from. You may also work collaboratively with other concept artists.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a video game concept artist?

To thrive as a Video Game Concept Artist, you need strong drawing and design fundamentals, a creative imagination, and typically a degree in art, illustration, or a related field. Proficiency with digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, and graphics tablets is essential, and familiarity with 3D modeling software can be advantageous. Collaboration, communication, and the ability to take feedback gracefully are crucial soft skills for excelling in team-based environments. These skills and qualities ensure the creation of compelling visual concepts that guide the game's aesthetic and enhance the overall player experience.

How do video game concept artists typically collaborate with other members of the game development team?

Video Game Concept Artists work closely with game designers, art directors, and 3D modelers to ensure that the visual concepts align with the game's vision and technical requirements. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, present their artwork for feedback, and revise their designs based on team input. Effective communication is crucial, as concept art serves as the visual foundation for other departments, guiding the style and mood of characters, environments, and props throughout production.

What is the difference between Video Game Concept Artist vs Character Designer?

AspectVideo Game Concept ArtistCharacter Designer
Primary FocusCreating overall visual concepts for game environments, characters, and assetsDesigning specific characters' appearance, costumes, and personality
Skills RequiredConcept art, illustration, understanding of game art pipelinesCharacter anatomy, costume design, illustration skills
Work EnvironmentGame development studios, freelance projectsGame studios, animation, and entertainment industries
Common UsageDeveloping initial visual ideas for gamesCreating detailed character visuals for production

While both roles involve illustration and visual design, a Video Game Concept Artist focuses on broad concepts for the entire game environment and characters, whereas a Character Designer specializes in detailed character visuals. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the game industry.

Are video game concept artists in demand?

Video game concept artists are in demand due to the growing gaming industry and the need for original visual designs. Skills in digital illustration, 3D modeling, and familiarity with tools like Photoshop and Blender enhance job prospects, especially in studios focused on innovative game development.

How much do video game concept artists make?

Video game concept artists typically earn between $40,000 and $80,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior artists or those working for major studios can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000. Many also supplement income through freelance work or by developing a strong portfolio and industry reputation.
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Video Game Concept Artist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Video Game Concept Artist job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $31,769 per year, or $15.3 per hour.

Sr Concept Artist, Environments

PlayStation Global

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

$136K - $157K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Posted 20 days ago

Job description

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?
Sony Interactive Entertainment isn't just the Best Place to Play - it's also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we're part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.
Join the award-winning team that created God of War
Santa Monica Studio is seeking an experienced Sr Environment Concept Artist for the development of a new unannounced title!
We are looking for an experienced concept artist with a focus on environments to help us visualize imaginative and unique worlds that set the bar for creativity and complexity on the PlayStation console. You would contribute to the artistic vision, working with art teams to establish the tone of the game, and bring it to life. As a member of the team passionate about environments, you must effectively collaborate with the Art Director, Game Director, and Art Leads to craft worlds that are visually spectacular and cohesive while also working with a wide range of development team members to ensure technical feasibility. Help us craft unique visuals that define our industry!
Responsibilities
  • Design environments, props, production callouts, system interacts, high vision concept art, color scripts, marketing material and other visual guides and tasks as needed to assist the development team
  • Combine the goals of game design, art direction, and technological considerations to build industry defining environments
  • Research and initiate information gathering of pertinent subject matter to your task
  • Develop and maintain strong creative and collaborative partnerships across disciplines to help further develop the in-game environments, visual language, and rule sets for fantasy-based worlds
  • Solve complex artistic development issues for both artists as well as other team members
  • Actively improve your skills and maintain an awareness of industry techniques, tools, evaluate competitive products, learning new software packages and traditional art methods
  • Serve as an artistic resource for overall product or as a studio resource - this includes, but is not limited to conducting general research, developing ground-breaking techniques, or testing new systems and tools
Requirements
  • Strong command of foundation art skills (drawing, painting and rendering, material indication, perspective, composition, color theory, design, anatomy and 2d and 3d design techniques)
  • Strong design skills with the ability to render realistic believable fantasy based props, architecture, and natural landscapes using contemporary industry standard tools and techniques
  • Strong ideation, brainstorming and documentation skills
  • Proficiency in Photoshop with an emphasis on drawing, painting and image making
  • Ability to block out ideas in 3D as well as 2D depending on the needs of the task
  • Strong time management and prioritization skills - this entails collaborating with the Production group to coordinate task lists to ensure assignments are progressing well according to schedules, objectives, and overall project goals
  • Familiarity with video game product development and the fundamentals of 3D packages
  • Good communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts or relevant curriculum or equivalent skillset
  • 3+ years of AAA video game platform experience
Preferred Experience
  • Two or more published titles is desirable

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Avoid Recruitment Scams/Phishing Attempts:
Please be aware that any official outreach in response to your application will always be done from a @sony.com email address. Always make sure to double check the spelling on Sony is correct and the characters have not been replaced with any numbers/symbols before replying.
Anyone using an email that is not @sony.com is not affiliated with us and should be reported either via the platform they are contacting you on or directly to your email service as a phishing attempt/scam.
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.
The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.
$120,600-$180,800 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 our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.
Equal Opportunity Statement:
Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.
We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.
Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.

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