How to hire a 3d artist

How to hire a 3d artist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step 3d artist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a 3d artist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new 3d artist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a 3d artist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The 3d artist hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A 3d artist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, 3d artists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of 3d artists.

   Type of 3D Artist	Description	Hourly rate
   3D Artist	Multimedia artists and animators create animation and visual effects for television, movies, video games, and other forms of media.	$22-55
   Web Graphic Designer	A web graphic designer specializes in the aesthetics and functionality of a web platform, software, and other applications. They are primarily responsible for building a platform that adheres to the subject's purpose and the client's preferred theme while prioritizing an easy-to-use and navigate interface... Show more	$17-34
   Visual Merchandiser	A visual merchandiser is responsible for arranging product displays at retail outlets, attracting customers to purchase the items. Visual merchandisers should be updated with the latest trends in the market to prioritize retail displays and floor plans... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Animation
   • Unity
   • ZBrush
   • Game Engine
   • Adobe Photoshop
   • Concept Art
   • UV
   • Unreal Engine
   • Asset Creation
   • Character Design
   • Hard Surface
   • Unity3D
   • Texture Maps
   • PC

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create many MEL scripts to help automate routine daily tasks and improve overall productivity.
   • Write tools in Maxscript, MEL, javascript, python, and vbscript to automate repetitive processes.
   • Create high poly characters, props, and environments using organic and hard surface techniques in Zbrush and Maya.
   • Generate programs for CNC punch press.
   • Help team create nodes for nuke.
   • Contract as a 3D visualization designer & animator.

   More 3d artist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the 3d artist job description is a good way to get more applicants. A 3d artist salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a 3d artist in Nebraska may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level 3d artist. Additionally, a 3d artist with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average 3d artist salary

   $74,721yearly

   $35.92 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level 3d artist salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average 3d artist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$97,607	$47
   2	Washington	$93,729	$45
   3	New York	$78,839	$38
   4	Utah	$75,707	$36
   5	North Carolina	$69,742	$34
   6	Michigan	$69,720	$34
   7	Pennsylvania	$68,147	$33
   8	New Jersey	$66,914	$32
   9	Florida	$55,049	$26
   10	Texas	$54,153	$26
   11	Illinois	$54,142	$26
   12	Colorado	$48,472	$23
   13	Massachusetts	$47,956	$23
   14	Georgia	$46,538	$22
   15	Alabama	$44,854	$22
   16	Ohio	$41,033	$20

   Average 3d artist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Meta	$151,133	$72.66	2
   2	Microsoft	$141,405	$67.98
   3	Apple	$140,249	$67.43
   4	NVIDIA	$137,577	$66.14
   5	Edelman Financial Engines	$129,501	$62.26
   6	The New York Times Company	$118,361	$56.90
   7	Houzz	$111,548	$53.63
   8	Amazon	$108,203	$52.02	2
   9	Lucasfilm	$104,050	$50.02
   10	TikTok	$102,869	$49.46
   11	Warner Bros.	$101,750	$48.92	11
   12	Tesla	$101,165	$48.64
   13	HTC Global Services - Official Page	$99,610	$47.89
   14	Magic Leap	$97,869	$47.05
   15	Raw Thrills	$97,263	$46.76
   16	Gearbox Software	$90,285	$43.41	7
   17	NOV	$90,226	$43.38
   18	GSN Games	$89,466	$43.01
   19	Riot Games	$88,577	$42.59	6
   20	ArenaNet	$88,494	$42.55

4. Writing a 3d artist job description

   A good 3d artist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a 3d artist job description:

   3d artist job description example

   Job Title: 3D Artist

   Location: Wilmington, NC

   Department: NC Art

   Reports To: Art Lead

   Status: Exempt

   
   

   Online art portfolio (Required at the time of application) - This can be work-related or personal projects outside of work-related activities

   
   

   WHO WE ARE: Grover Gaming, headquartered in Greenville, North Carolina, is a software design and development company that specializes in electronic gaming throughout the United States and Canada. Having more than 400 employees located in seven states, we are working every day toward building a strong foundation of humble, passionate people, effective processes, and superior products. Our dedication to customer service, adaptability, and a diverse range of products has solidified our position as a global leader in the electronic gaming industry. Grover Gaming is a 3-year Inc 5000 award recipient, recognizing the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States and was recently honored with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award. Glassdoor ranked Grover Gaming Number 2 in its Best Places to Work list in 2022 among companies across the US with less than 1,000 employees. Our company strives to support local communities and has helped raise over $375 Million for charities through its partnerships in charitable gaming markets.

   
   

   SUMMARY: The ideal candidate for 3D Artist has experience modeling, texturing, and lighting engine-ready assets in a stylized world. A solid grasp of form, color, and light for both 2D and 3D art assets is essential.

   You will work across all aspects of a game's visual design, UI, art, and more. Blending artistic expertise and technical ability, you will create visually stimulating content that will enhance game play-ability and showcase original experiences to a wide player audience.

   
   

   QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

   
   

   RESPONSIBILITIES:

   Understand company Mission, Vision, and Values and be an ambassador of MVV.

   Creating high-quality 3D and 2D assets to meet fast-paced deadlines

   Demonstrating strengths in modeling, texturing, and lighting of 3D assets

   Organizing and implementing assets in the Unity 3D game engine

   Collaborating effectively with a team of artists and programmers to offer creative solutions to both art and game design challenges

   Producing concept sketches and quick edits to communicate artistic concepts with the team

   
   

   REQUIREMENTS:

   1-3 years experience in a related position

   A high level of proficiency using Maya to create fun and stylized characters/assets

   An eye for color and composition in 2D and 3D designs

   Skilled in Photoshop

   Ability to sculpt stylized assets or characters in Zbrush

   Experience in the Unity3D game engine (importing assets, animation editor, shuriken particle system)

   
   

   Preferred Requirements:

   Art degree (Associates or Bachelors)

   Experience in casino or mobile gaming industry

   Understanding of the visual style and gameplay of top tier slot games

   Experience with Substance Painter

   
   

   
   

   
   

   WORK ENVIRONMENT: The usual work environment is typical of an office environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with no material or weather-related hazards except those associated with travel.

   This Job Description is to be used as a guide for accomplishing Company objectives. The description incorporates the most typical duties performed and covers only the primary functions and responsibilities of the position. It is recognized that other related duties not specifically mentioned may also be performed. The inclusion of those duties would not alter the overall evaluation of this position.

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right 3d artist for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your 3d artist job on Zippia to find and recruit 3d artist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dribbble, authentic jobs, working not working, coroflot.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit 3d artists, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new 3d artist

   Once you've selected the best 3d artist candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new 3d artist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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