How much does a Video Game Programmer make in Chicago, IL?

As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Video Game Programmer in Chicago, IL is $81,096. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $72,559 to a high of $93,274, with most professionals earning between $76,628 and $87,471.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Video Game Programmer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Video Game Programmer Salary $72,559 Chicago,IL March 01, 2025
25th Percentile Video Game Programmer Salary $76,628 Chicago,IL March 01, 2025
50th Percentile Video Game Programmer Salary $81,096 Chicago,IL March 01, 2025
75th Percentile Video Game Programmer Salary $87,471 Chicago,IL March 01, 2025
90th Percentile Video Game Programmer Salary $93,274 Chicago,IL March 01, 2025
25% $76,628 10% $72,559 90% $93,274 75% $87,471 $81,096 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Video Game Programmer ?

A game programmer is a software engineer, programmer, or computer scientist who primarily develops codebases for video games or related software, such as game development tools. Game programming has many specialized disciplines, all of which fall under the umbrella term of "game programmer". A game programmer should not be confused with a game designer, who works on game design....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/17/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Video Game Programmer.

Job Openings for Video Game Programmer in Chicago, IL

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Video Game Programmer

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Applications Programmer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Video Game Programmer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
76628
87471
81096

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
76628
87471
81096
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Video Game Programmer in Chicago, IL. The base salary for Video Game Programmer ranges from $76,628 to $87,471 with the average base salary of $81,096. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $76,628 to $87,471 with the average total cash compensation of $81,096.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

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For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

76628
87471

 

About Chicago, Illinois    Chicago (/ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ (listen), locally also /-ˈkɔː-/), officially the City of Chicago, is the most populous city in Illinois, as well as the third mos....More

Chicago, Illinois  area prices were up 0.8% from a year ago

Video Game Programmer Salary in popular cities: AuroraRockfordJoliet

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