As of May 01, 2026, the average hourly pay of character design in the United States is $46. While Salary.com is seeing that character design salary in the US can go up to $53 or down to $38, but most earn between $42 and $50. Salary.com shows the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of character design in the United States.
| Percentile | Hourly Pay Rate | Location | Last Updated |
| 10th Percentile character design Salary | $38 | US | May 01, 2026 |
| 25th Percentile character design Salary | $42 | US | May 01, 2026 |
| 50th Percentile character design Salary | $46 | US | May 01, 2026 |
| 75th Percentile character design Salary | $50 | US | May 01, 2026 |
| 90th Percentile character design Salary | $53 | US | May 01, 2026 |
Character design salary varies based on experience, location, and industry. Entry-level positions typically offer salaries ranging from $40,000 to $60,000 annually, while mid-level designers can earn between $60,000 and $90,000. Senior character designers or those with specialized skills may command salaries exceeding $100,000. Factors influencing salary include the complexity of the projects, the size of the company, and the designer's portfolio. Industries such as video games, animation, and film often provide higher compensation due to the demand for skilled artists. Freelance character d...
See user submitted job responsibilities for character design.
2 - 4 years experience
Bachelor's Degree
4 - 7 years experience
Bachelor's Degree
7 + years experience
Bachelor's Degree
| Job Title | Experience | EDUCATION | Salary Compared to This Job |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Title Graphic Design Manager | Experience 5 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Graphic Design Specialist I | Experience 0 - 2 | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Graphic Design Specialist II | Experience 2 - 4 | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Graphic Design Specialist III | Experience 4 - 7 | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
| Job Title Graphic Design Specialist IV | Experience 7 + | EducationBachelors | Salary Compared to This Job |
Core compensation
Includes base and short-term incentives
Recently searched related titles: Animation Artist, Lead Level Designer, Lead Technical Artist
Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role
Jobs with a similar salary range to character design : Bim Detailer, Character Rigger, Cinematic Animator
