Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Games Designer in Illinois is $111,589 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $54.
However, a Games Designer's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
Games Designer Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $121,061 | $10,088 | $2,328 | $58 |
| Average | $111,589 | $9,299 | $2,146 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $101,864 | $8,489 | $1,959 | $49 |
Duluth Trading Company - MOUNT HOREB, WI
Trane Technologies - DAVIDSON, NC
Trane Technologies - DAVIDSON, NC
Trane Technologies - DAVIDSON, NC
A Games Designer'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.
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 Games Designers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Games Designer roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 45% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 22% above the average. In contrast, Games Designer positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Games Designer as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $136,138 | $65.0 | 22% |
| Financial Services | $133,907 | $64.0 | 20% |
| Pharmaceuticals | $128,327 | $62.0 | 15% |
| Energy & Utilities | $124,980 | $60.0 | 12% |
| Internet | $122,748 | $59.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Games Designer'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $121,061 | $10,088 | $2,328 | $58 |
| Average | $111,589 | $9,299 | $2,146 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $101,864 | $8,489 | $1,959 | $49 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Games Designer job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Logistic Services Int.
JACKSONVILLE, FL
Logistic Services Int. | JACKSONVILLE, FL
Req ID: 532 Job Title: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGNER I Location: Jacksonville, FL, US 32221 Job Type: Full-Time Education: Bachelor's Degree Travel: Up to 10% Job... more
6 Days Ago
American Equipment HR LLC
SAN JOSE, NM
American Equipment HR LLC | SAN JOSE, NM
Description: American Equipment Holdings, is one of the leading overhead crane solutions providers in the United States. Over the years, our ability to gro... more
5 Days Ago
American Equipment HR LLC
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
American Equipment HR LLC | SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Description: American Equipment Holdings, is one of the leading overhead crane solutions providers in the United States. Over the years, our ability to gro... more
5 Days Ago
American Equipment HR LLC
SAN DIEGO, CA
American Equipment HR LLC | SAN DIEGO, CA
Description: American Equipment Holdings, is one of the leading overhead crane solutions providers in the United States. Over the years, our ability to gro... more
5 Days Ago
American Equipment HR LLC
ANAHEIM, CA
American Equipment HR LLC | ANAHEIM, CA
Description: American Equipment Holdings, is one of the leading overhead crane solutions providers in the United States. Over the years, our ability to gro... more
5 Days Ago
American Equipment HR LLC
FRESNO, CA
American Equipment HR LLC | FRESNO, CA
Description: American Equipment Holdings, is one of the leading overhead crane solutions providers in the United States. Over the years, our ability to gro... more
5 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
