Gameplay Designer Salaries in California
How Much Does a Gameplay Designer Make in California?
Updated April 01, 2025
As of April 01, 2025,
the average annual pay of Gameplay Designer in California is $86,341.
While Salary.com is seeing that Gameplay Designer salary in CA can go up to $102,458
or down to $69,510, but most earn between $77,531 and $94,778.
Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors,
including education, certifications, additional skills, and your experience levels.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Related Job Titles to Gameplay Designer
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Similar Job Salaries to Gameplay Designer by Company
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| Company | average base salary in (usd) | range |
|---|---|---|
|
WB Games / Avalanche
Lead Designer, Gameplay
|
$117,072/yr
|
RANGE: $106,429 - $127,714
|
|
Blizzard Entertainment
Lead Gameplay Designer - Unannounced Game | Irvine, CA
|
$133,039/yr
|
RANGE: $122,770 - $143,308
|
|
LightSpeed Studios
Gameplay Designer Job at LightSpeed Studios in Irvine
|
$82,750/yr
|
RANGE: $73,865 - $91,635
|
|
Playdead
Gameplay Designer
|
$71,237/yr
|
RANGE: $63,533 - $78,941
|
|
VirtualVocations
Gameplay Programmer
|
$103,811/yr
|
RANGE: $94,112 - $113,509
|
|
PlayStation
Gameplay Technical Designer
|
$78,485/yr
|
RANGE: $69,948 - $87,023
|
|
Warner Bros. Discovery
Lead Designer, Gameplay
|
$116,139/yr
|
RANGE: $105,442 - $126,836
|
|
Probably Monsters
Principal Player Combat & Gameplay Designer
|
$103,556/yr
|
RANGE: $92,959 - $114,153
|
|
Nxt Level
Senior Gameplay Engineer
|
$138,639/yr
|
RANGE: $128,245 - $149,033
|
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities For Gameplay Designer Jobs in California
It is important to understand how location impacts your career prospects in the United States.
There are some cities where a Gameplay Designer can find a job easily with a greater salary paid then achieve a higher standard of living.
Below is the top cities list for Gameplay Designer job salaries in California.
Some cities can pay higher salaries for Gameplay Designer jobs, which can indicate that there is a large demand for Gameplay Designer positions in this city.
The following table shows top 10 cities where the Gameplay Designer salary is higher than other cities in California.
San Jose takes first place in this list, followed by Santa Clara, Fremont.
The Gameplay Designer salary is $98,733 in San Jose,
which is higher than the national average. There are 76 cities' Gameplay Designer salary higher than national average in California.
The average salary for a Gameplay Designer in California is $86,341,
but we found that the city with the highest salary for Gameplay Designer jobs is San Jose, CA, and it is higher than Santa Clara.
Gameplay Designer jobs in San Jose can have the opportunity to earn higher salaries than in other cities in California.
| CITY | ANNUAL SALARY | MONTHLY PAY | WEEKLY PAY | HOURLY WAGE |
| San Jose | $98,733 | $8,228 | $1,899 | $47 |
| Santa Clara | $98,733 | $8,228 | $1,899 | $47 |
| Fremont | $98,545 | $8,212 | $1,895 | $47 |
| San Francisco | $97,762 | $8,147 | $1,880 | $47 |
| Daly City | $97,762 | $8,147 | $1,880 | $47 |
| Berkeley | $95,594 | $7,966 | $1,838 | $46 |
| Oakland | $95,594 | $7,966 | $1,838 | $46 |
| Hayward | $95,437 | $7,953 | $1,835 | $46 |
| Antioch | $90,192 | $7,516 | $1,734 | $43 |
| Vallejo | $88,063 | $7,339 | $1,694 | $42 |
What Does a Gameplay Designer Do?
Towards the end of production, designers take the brunt of responsibility for ensuring that the gameplay remains at a uniform standard throughout the game, even in very long games.
Updated December 22, 2021
Likewise, if the programmers develop the game engine in a way that means new, exciting things can be done, the gameplay designer works out how to incorporate those into the game.
Updated December 06, 2021
There are plenty of thoughts and ideas online that every game designer should check out on the subject of what makes gameplay fun.
Updated December 03, 2021
Collaboration: work closely with the lead designer, gameplay programmer, AI programmer, art department and other programmers.
Updated December 22, 2021
Video game designers make that concept of gameplay and layout come alive, often through experimentation with several themes and genres, as well as developments and improvements on existing games.
Updated December 08, 2021
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Explore JobArchitectFrequently Asked Questions About a Gameplay Designer Salaries
What is the average of a Gameplay Designer in California?
The Gameplay Designer salary range is from $77,531 to $94,778, and the average Gameplay Designer salary is $86,341/year in California.
The Gameplay Designer's salary will change in different locations.
Which location pays the highest Gameplay Designer salary in the United States?
The Gameplay Designer salary in San Jose, CA is $98,733
which is the highest in the US.
What kinds of reasons will influence the Gameplay Designer's salary?
Besides the location, employees' education degree, related skills, and work experience also will influence the salary.
Try to improve your skills and experience to get a higher salary for the position of Gameplay Designer.
What is the growth rate of the Gameplay Designer's salary?
If you are thinking of becoming a Gameplay Designer or planning the next step in your career, find the detailed salary report of a Gameplay Designer.
