Gameplay Designer Salary in the United States

How much does a Gameplay Designer make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Gameplay Designer in the United States is $73,223 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $90,256
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,214 to $82,139
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,011
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View as table View as graph 25% $64,214 10% $56,011 90% $90,256 75% $82,139 $73,223 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Gameplay Designer Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $82,139 $6,845 $1,580 $39
Average $73,223 $6,102 $1,408 $35
25th Percentile $64,214 $5,351 $1,235 $31
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Key Factors That Influence Gameplay Designer Salaries

A Gameplay 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

Top Paying Cities for Gameplay Designers

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: $92,356
  • San Francisco: $91,448
  • Oakland: $89,420

What Skills Can Increase a Gameplay Designer's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.72% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.84% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Microsoft Word (Mentioned in 1.37% Job Postings): Microsoft Word or MS Word is a popular word-processing program used mainly for creating documents, such as brochures, letters, learning activities, quizzes, tests, and students' homework assignments
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.72%
Accounting 2.84%
Microsoft Word 1.37%
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 Gameplay Designer's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
$82,010
12%
Leadership
$79,081
8%
Consulting
$78,349
7%
Collaboration
$77,616
6%
Analysis
$76,884
5%
Logistics
$76,152
4%
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How Education impacts a Gameplay Designer's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Gameplay Designers enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Gameplay Designer with a No Diploma is between $74,274 and $78,391).

Gameplay Designer Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Gameplay Designer
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.8%
High School 27.4%
Associates 20.5%
Bachelors 37.3%
Masters 6.7%
Doctorate 0.2%
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Gameplay Designer Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Gameplay 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.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Gameplay Designer

Salaries for a Gameplay Designer can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $57,502 in 2023 to around $56,339 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Gameplay Designer salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Gameplay Designer Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$57,502
2024
$57,140
2025
$56,339
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $57,502
2024 $57,140
2025 $56,339
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Gameplay Designer

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

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

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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