Game Designer and Developer Salary in the United States

How much does a Game Designer and Developer make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Game Designer and Developer in the United States is $74,187 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, a Game Designer and Developer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $88,307
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,770 to $81,578
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $61,927
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,770 10% $61,927 90% $88,307 75% $81,578 $74,187 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Game Designer and Developer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $81,578 $6,798 $1,569 $39
Average $74,187 $6,182 $1,427 $36
25th Percentile $67,770 $5,647 $1,303 $33
Check out Game Designer and Developer Job Openings in the United States
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Senior Graphics Developer Designer

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Key Factors That Influence Game Designer and Developer Salaries

A Game Designer and Developer's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Game Designer and Developer Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Game Designer and Developer's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $72,149
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,852
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,392
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,700
  • Expert (over 8 years): $74,905
Levels Salary
Entry Level Game Designer and Developer$72,149
Intermediate Level Game Designer and Developer$72,852
Senior Level Game Designer and Developer$74,392
Specialist Level Game Designer and Developer$74,700
Expert Level Game Designer and Developer$74,905
$72,149 0 yr
$72,852 < 2 yrs
$74,392 2-4 yrs
$74,700 5-8 yrs
$74,905 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Game Designer and Developer Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Game Designer and Developers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $82,140.
  • California: $81,828.
  • Massachusetts: $80,737.

Top Paying Cities for Game Designer and Developers

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $93,572
  • San Francisco: $92,652
  • Oakland: $90,597

What Skills Can Increase a Game Designer and Developer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 5.41% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.03% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Building Codes (Mentioned in 1.24% Job Postings): A building code (also building control or building regulations) is a set of rules that specify the standards for constructed objects such as buildings and nonbuilding structures. Buildings must conform to the code to obtain planning permission, usually from a local council. The main purpose of building codes is to protect public health, safety and general welfare as they relate to the construction and occupancy of buildings and structures. The building code becomes law of a particular jurisdiction when formally enacted by the appropriate governmental or private authority. Building codes are generally intended to be applied by architects, engineers, interior designers, constructors and regulators but are also used for various purposes by safety inspectors, environmental scientists, real estate developers, subcontractors, manufacturers of building products and materials, insurance companies, facility managers, tenants, and others. Codes regulate the design and construction of structures where adopted into law.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 5.41%
Packaging 2.03%
Building Codes 1.24%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Game Designer and Developer's salary.
  • Solution Design: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Civil Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • 3D Modeling: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Solution Design
$84,573
14%
Civil Engineering
$80,122
8%
3D Modeling
$79,380
7%
Collaboration
$78,638
6%
Packaging
$77,896
5%
Project Design
$77,154
4%
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Game Designer and Developer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Game Designer and Developer's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Game Designer and Developer

Salaries for a Game Designer and Developer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $64,581 in 2023 to around $64,423 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Game Designer and Developer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Game Designer and Developer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$64,581
2024
$64,665
2025
$64,423
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $64,581
2024 $64,665
2025 $64,423
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Game Designer and Developer

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Game Designer and Developer

Here are companies hiring for Game Designer and Developer and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Game Designer and Developer Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Game Designer and Developer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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