3D designers turn concepts into compelling digital and physical experiences. They create models, environments, animations, and visualizations for industries such as technology, entertainment, architecture, product design, advertising, and manufacturing. Explore vetted 3D Designer opportunities on Ladders, including roles with compensation of $100,000 or more.
Responsibilities vary by industry and employer, but often include building and refining 3D models, developing textures and materials, lighting and rendering scenes, creating animations, and preparing assets for production. Designers may collaborate with art directors, engineers, product teams, animators, and clients to translate briefs and technical requirements into polished visual work.
Employers commonly seek strong visual design fundamentals, spatial reasoning, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate ideas clearly. Depending on the role, useful experience may include 3D modeling, texturing, rigging, animation, rendering, real-time workflows, and visualization. Tools vary across teams and may include Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, or real-time engines such as Unreal Engine.
3D designers can specialize in areas such as product visualization, architectural visualization, character and environment art, motion design, virtual production, or interactive experiences. With experience, professionals may advance to senior designer, lead artist, art director, or other creative leadership roles. Requirements and compensation depend on specialization, experience, location, and employer.
Browse Ladders for vetted professional opportunities with salaries of $100,000 or more. Explore 3D Designer listings, compare role requirements, and discover opportunities that align with your creative strengths and career goals.
$80K - $95K *
Lead innovative design projects that drive strategic business goals. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create effective, sustainable solutions while mentoring junior designers and ensuring pr...
4 days ago
Technology Systems - Senior Designer
$95K - $115K *
Engineer innovative technology systems for diverse building projects. Lead design and delivery of telecommunications, audiovisual, and security systems while mentoring junior team members and collabor...
3 weeks ago
Technology Systems - Senior Designer
$95K - $115K *
Empower innovation by leading the design of advanced technology systems for diverse building projects. Collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams while mentoring junior staff to deliver high...
3 weeks ago
Technology Systems - Senior Designer
$95K - $115K *
Champion innovative technology systems design by leading projects in telecommunications, audiovisual, and security systems. Collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality...
3 weeks ago
Technology Systems - Senior Designer
$95K - $115K *
Champion innovative technology solutions by leading the design and delivery of advanced telecommunications, audiovisual, and security systems for diverse building projects while mentoring junior team...
3 weeks ago
$85K - $95K *
Join a team that's redefining high-end residential design by transforming client visions into practical, buildable solutions. Collaborate with diverse stakeholders to guide projects from concept throu...
1 week ago
$157K - $188K *
Join a dynamic team to design impactful user experiences for complex data solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional partners to enhance product usability and drive measurable improvements, all whil...
2 days ago
$200K - $242K *
Engineer innovative network solutions, providing expert guidance and analysis to complex IT challenges. Collaborate with the FitUp team to enhance infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance and secu...
2 weeks ago
$159K - $190K *
Help us shape the future of space exploration by leading mechanical design efforts for advanced spacecraft and robotic systems. Collaborate with top engineers to create innovative solutions and ensure...
2 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and release manufacturable mechanical designs for high-performance metal components, ensuring quality and efficiency from concept through production...
3 weeks ago
$95K - $115K *
Shape the future of precision manufacturing by developing and releasing high-performance mechanical designs. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability and quality in a fast-p...
3 weeks ago
$162K - $238K *
Elevate your career by designing cutting-edge electron optics systems for advanced e-beam inspection tools. Collaborate on innovative projects, lead design reviews, and ensure high-quality implementat...
2 days ago
$80K - $95K *
Drive the design and documentation of luxury custom residential projects, ensuring high-quality outcomes through advanced Revit modeling, client coordination, and proactive problem-solving while leadi...
4 days ago
$100K - $120K *
Advance your career by overseeing 3D design excellence across diverse projects. Lead a talented team to create immersive branded experiences, ensuring quality and innovation from concept to execution...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Lead the charge in 3D design excellence, overseeing innovative projects from concept to execution. Collaborate with a talented team to create immersive branded experiences while ensuring quality and c...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Drive 3D design excellence across diverse projects, ensuring high-quality execution from concept to delivery. Lead a talented team, innovate design solutions, and elevate client experiences through im...
2 weeks ago
$110K - $130K *
Optimize 3D design excellence across diverse projects, leading a creative team to elevate brand experiences through innovative concepts and meticulous execution, ensuring quality and client satisfacti...
2 weeks ago
3D Plant Layout Engineer - Revit/BIM Specialist
$125K - $150K *
Lead the development and governance of BIM standards while creating coordinated 3D factory layouts. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate equipment and optimize plant design systems for...
1 week ago
$83K - $129K *
Transform customer experiences by collaborating across teams to design and deliver engaging digital products. Utilize your design expertise to enhance user journeys and ensure visual consistency acros...
4 weeks ago
Product Designer, Visual Lease & Costar Real Estate Manager
$94K - $126K *
Join a team that's redefining user experiences by transforming business objectives into intuitive design solutions. Collaborate closely with product and engineering to create impactful, user-centered...
3 days ago
$110K - $135K *
Elevate PCB design excellence by leading DFM initiatives and developing high-density layouts. Collaborate across teams to ensure manufacturability and drive continuous improvement in processes and sta...
3 weeks ago
$99K - $136K *
Lead the charge in enhancing the end-to-end contracting process, collaborating with cross-functional teams to design user-centric solutions that integrate AI tools and improve workflows, ensuring a se...
1 week ago
$99K - $144K *
Bring your expertise to enhance the contracting process through design, collaborating with cross-functional teams to create a seamless user experience across AI-powered tools and workflows, while main...
1 week ago
$104K - $161K *
Transform your career by enhancing the contracting process through innovative design. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create seamless user experiences that leverage AI tools and data insigh...
1 week ago
Senior Softgoods Digital Design Engineer
$175K - $215K *
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create high-quality Class-A surfaces for softgoods in humanoid robots, ensuring design fidelity and manufacturability from concept through production...
2 weeks ago
What does a 3D designer do?
A 3D designer creates digital models, scenes, animations, and visualizations. The work may support products, architecture, games, film, advertising, or other experiences, depending on the employer.
What skills are important for 3D designer jobs?
Commonly valued skills include 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, visual design, spatial reasoning, collaboration, and clear communication. Specific requirements differ by role and industry.
Which software do 3D designers use?
Tools vary by specialty and team. Common examples include Blender, Autodesk Maya, 3ds Max, Cinema 4D, ZBrush, and Unreal Engine.
What industries hire 3D designers?
3D designers work across technology, entertainment, architecture, product design, advertising, manufacturing, and other fields that use three-dimensional visualization or digital content.
Can 3D designers find jobs paying $100,000 or more?
Yes. Ladders features vetted professional jobs paying $100,000 or more, including opportunities that may suit experienced 3D designers. Compensation depends on factors such as experience, specialty, location, and employer.