An illustrator creates original custom illustrations for marketing materials, product assets, brand identity, and editorial content that give your brand a distinctive and memorable visual voice.
A great Illustrator does not just complete tasks. They own a function that directly frees you to grow. Here is what that looks like in a scaling business:
01Create custom illustrations for marketing campaigns and brand materials
02Develop icon systems and illustrated brand assets
03Produce editorial illustrations for blog posts and social content
04Collaborate with design and marketing teams on visual concepts
05Build and maintain a library of brand illustration assets
How this hire moves your business forward: Custom illustration gives your brand a visual identity that no template or stock image can replicate. It is a differentiation signal that communicates craft, investment, and distinctiveness.
Why LatAm
Why LatAm Produces Great Illustrators.
LatAm produces exceptional illustrators with formal training in fine arts, graphic design, and illustration. Countries like Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have rich artistic traditions and a large pool of commercially experienced illustrators.
The timezone overlap with the US is strong. LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time, so there is no async lag, no late-night handoffs, and no communication gap.
Skills & tools
Know What a Great Illustrator Actually Brings to the Table.
Beyond the resume, here are the skills, tools, and traits that separate strong performers from strong interviewers.
Hard Skills
Digital illustration
Icon and asset design
Character and concept illustration
Brand style system development
Editorial illustration
Common Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Procreate
Photoshop
Figma
After Effects (for animated illustration)
Soft Skills & Traits
Original creative vision
Versatile across styles
Consistent within a defined style system
Collaborative with creative direction
Organized asset delivery
Compensation
What You Can Expect to Pay.
Based on Sur market data and regional benchmarks. Figures reflect total cash compensation.
Seniority
US Annual
LatAm Annual
You Save
Entry
$45,000
$16,800
$28,200 / yr
Mid level
$62,000
$24,000
$38,000 / yr
Senior
$82,000
$33,600
$48,400 / yr
Spot the right hire
What to Look For, and What to Watch Out For.
Green Flags
Portfolio shows range AND the ability to work within a defined style system
Can develop an illustration style from a brief or brand reference
Delivers finished assets in the right formats without constant guidance
Organized about versioning and asset management
Red Flags
Beautiful portfolio that has only one style - cannot adapt
No experience working commercially within brand constraints
No understanding of vector vs. raster or file format requirements
Our process
Our Process for This Role.
We do not post and wait. Every Illustrator search we run is built from scratch around your business, your stage, your team, and your goals. And at every step, we are thinking about how this hire helps you grow.
1
Onboarding Call
We start by understanding what you actually need.
2
Role Scoping and Assessment Design
We build a precise role profile and design the custom skills assessment before we search for anyone.
3
Sourcing
We source actively across LatAm and the Caribbean and through our network.
4
Prescreening and Phone Screen
Every candidate is internally screened then put through an English phone screen.
5
Your Shortlist
3 to 5 candidates delivered early in the process with background, audio clip, and our team's recommendation.
6
Skills Assessment
Shortlisted candidates take a custom assessment built to replicate the actual work of the role.
7
Hire and Guarantee
We support the offer, help structure compensation for retention, and back every placement with a 90-day guarantee.
2-3 weeks typically. Most placements are made within 21 days of the onboarding call.
Most LatAm professionals work within 1 to 3 hours of US Eastern time.
All Sur placements speak fluent English. We screen for language ability on every search. Moderate English acceptable depending on exposure.
A LatAm illustrator delivers original, high-quality illustration at significantly lower cost. The region has deep fine arts and design traditions producing illustrators with both technical skill and distinctive creative voices.
If your hire does not work out within the first 90 days for any reason, we replace them at no additional cost.
Some can animate their illustrations. Confirm this capability separately if motion is important.
If you need original, custom-drawn artwork - an illustrator. If you need layout, typography, and asset design - a graphic designer. Some professionals do both.
Ready to Hire a Illustrator Who Actually Moves the Needle?
Let us design the role together and find you the right person from LatAm.