Chicago, IL · Updated Daily

Character Artist Jobs in Chicago

Find character artist jobs in Chicago from Illinois game and interactive studios. Jellyvision Games, WMS Industries, and multiple outsource studios hire character artists. Illinois flat income tax. Updated daily.

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Character Artist Roles in Chicago

🧑‍🎨

Junior Character Artist

Entry-level character modeling and rigging for games.

⚔️

Senior Character Artist

High-fidelity hero and enemy characters for AAA studios.

🦴

Character TD

Technical character development and pipeline tools.

🎭

Lead Character Artist

Team leadership and cross-department collaboration.

🌟

Principal Character Artist

Art direction and quality bar for entire franchises.

🔧

Outsource Character Artist

Contract and vendor character production.

👾

Stylized Character Artist

Cartoon and stylized aesthetics for mobile and indie.

🤖

Creature Artist

Non-human characters, monsters, and fantasy creatures.

Chicago Studios Hiring Character Artists

Jellyvision Games

WMS Industries

Keywords Studios Chicago

Midway (legacy)

Syndicate 80

Grubhub Games

Chicago Roles Move Fast

Chicago game studios receive hundreds of applications per opening. Applying within the first 24-48 hours significantly improves your odds. ArtBlast paid subscribers get Discord live alerts the moment new Chicago character artist roles post.

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Character Artist Salary Ranges in Chicago (2026)

Junior Character Artist$46K-$63K

Mid-Level Character Artist$63K-$82K

Senior Character Artist$82K-$110K

Lead Character Artist$105K-$140K

USD. Illinois has a flat 4.95% state income tax.

What Chicago Studios Look For in Character Artists

🖥️ Software

ZBrush
Maya / Blender
Substance Painter
Marvelous Designer
Marmoset Toolbag

🎨 Art Skills

High-poly sculpting
Low-poly optimization
PBR texturing
Topology for animation
LOD creation

🔗 Pipeline

Rigging fundamentals
UE5 or Unity integration
Git / version control
Studio naming conventions

💼 Soft Skills

Portfolio presentation
Art direction feedback
Cross-team communication
Meeting milestones

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Character Artist Jobs in Chicago FAQ

Are there character artist jobs in Chicago?

Yes. Chicago has a steady game development community including Jellyvision Games, WMS Industries, and multiple outsource studios. The city also has a strong VFX and animation industry that hires character artists for film, games, and interactive media.

Which Chicago studios hire character artists?

Studios hiring character artists in Chicago include Jellyvision Games, WMS Industries, Keywords Studios Chicago, and several animation and VFX houses. Remote-first studios also use Chicago as a hiring base due to its large pool of art school graduates.

What is the salary for a character artist in Chicago?

In Chicago: Junior Character Artists earn $46K-$63K, mid-level $63K-$82K, Senior Character Artists $82K-$110K, and Lead Character Artists $105K-$140K. Illinois has a flat 4.95% income tax. Cost of living in Chicago is significantly lower than LA or New York.

Do Chicago game studios hire international character artists?

Yes. Chicago studios sponsor H-1B visas for experienced character artists. Chicago’s large international community and multiple universities including SAIC and Columbia College make it a frequent destination for international game art talent.

How do I find character artist jobs in Chicago?

ArtBlast curates character artist jobs daily and flags US roles. Applying within 24-48 hours gives you the best chance of being reviewed. Paid subscribers get Discord live alerts the moment new Chicago character artist roles post.

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