How much does a Video Games Tester make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Video Games Tester in the United States is $55,820 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $27.
However, a Video Games Tester's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,625
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,041 to $64,093
Key Factors That Influence Video Games Tester Salaries
A Video Games Tester'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 Video Games Tester Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Video Games Tester'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:
How Do Video Games Tester 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 Video Games Testers. 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:
San Jose: $70,406
San Francisco: $69,635
Oakland: $68,167
San Jose, CA$70,406
San Francisco, CA$69,635
Oakland, CA$68,167
New York, NY$64,270
Paramus, NJ$63,489
Queens Village, NY$63,486
Passaic, NJ$63,433
Bergenfield, NJ$63,428
Stamford, CT$63,305
Huntington, NY$63,282
Newark, NJ$62,870
Bridgeport, CT$62,752
Vallejo, CA$62,641
New Brunswick, NJ$62,619
Petaluma, CA$62,585
Middlesex, NJ$62,479
Somerset, NJ$62,440
Santa Cruz, CA$62,368
Boston, MA$62,027
Monterey, CA$61,831
Seattle, WA$61,703
Santa Rosa, CA$61,692
Los Angeles, CA$61,675
Juneau, AK$61,530
Washington, DC$61,469
Orange, CA$61,270
Santa Ana, CA$61,123
Long Beach, CA$61,067
Anaheim, CA$61,056
Anchorage, AK$61,028
Santa Maria, CA$60,860
Everett, WA$60,849
Danbury, CT$60,653
Bremerton, WA$60,576
Tacoma, WA$60,375
New Suffolk, NY$60,374
Sacramento, CA$60,358
Santa Barbara, CA$60,297
Trenton, NJ$60,235
San Diego, CA$60,235
Brockton, MA$60,174
Fairbanks, AK$60,037
Lompoc, CA$59,895
Lowell, MA$59,850
Ventura, CA$59,839
Nashua, NH$59,828
Stockton, CA$59,822
Modesto, CA$59,415
Poughkeepsie, NY$59,292
Olympia, WA$59,186
Kennewick, WA$59,186
New Haven, CT$59,164
Lawrence, MA$58,963
Hartford, CT$58,907
Riverside, CA$58,896
New Bedford, MA$58,840
Richland, WA$58,840
Bakersfield, CA$58,762
San Bernardino, CA$58,739
New Britain, CT$58,734
Atlantic City, NJ$58,734
New London, CT$58,711
Norwich, CT$58,695
Portsmouth, NH$58,683
Boulder, CO$58,565
Portland, OR$58,488
Worcester, MA$58,483
Minneapolis, MN$58,309
Philadelphia, PA$58,231
Honolulu, HI$58,047
Saint Paul, MN$58,020
Vineland, NJ$58,008
Providence, RI$57,846
Chicago, IL$57,684
Bellingham, WA$57,617
Springfield, MA$57,573
Baltimore, MD$57,556
Chico, CA$57,416
Pittsfield, MA$57,266
Manchester, NH$57,160
Spokane, WA$56,914
Denver, CO$56,908
Albany, NY$56,646
Troy, NY$56,624
Nassau, NY$56,564
Schenectady, NY$56,506
Wilmington, DE$56,462
Burlington, VT$56,384
Salem, OR$56,361
Portland, ME$56,188
Yakima, WA$56,132
Rochester, MN$55,959
Reno, NV$55,932
Fresno, CA$55,932
Milwaukee, WI$55,881
Detroit, MI$55,825
Ann Arbor, MI$55,816
Allentown, PA$55,809
Colorado Springs, CO$55,714
Syracuse, NY$55,686
Carson City, NV$55,686
Houston, TX$55,608
Eugene, OR$55,580
Gary, IN$55,513
Springfield, OR$55,468
Bismarck, ND$55,457
Galveston, TX$55,418
Medford, OR$55,334
Fort Collins, CO$55,312
Concord, NH$55,284
Austin, TX$55,267
Mesa, AZ$55,150
Reading, PA$55,144
Phoenix, AZ$55,139
Dallas, TX$55,122
Saint Cloud, MN$55,069
Madison, WI$54,994
Utica, NY$54,843
Rochester, NY$54,754
Des Moines, IA$54,748
Raleigh, NC$54,743
Atlanta, GA$54,659
Battle Creek, MI$54,642
Salt Lake City, UT$54,625
Lancaster, PA$54,542
Harrisburg, PA$54,463
Kansas City, MO$54,408
Champaign, IL$54,396
Kansas City, KS$54,396
Fort Worth, TX$54,391
Columbus, OH$54,381
Boca Raton, FL$54,369
Pittsburgh, PA$54,346
Richmond, VA$54,324
Indianapolis, IN$54,313
Cleveland, OH$54,307
Las Vegas, NV$54,240
Cincinnati, OH$54,240
Petersburg, VA$54,156
Huntsville, AL$54,073
Lansing, MI$54,035
Lebanon, PA$54,028
Pueblo, CO$54,022
Appleton, WI$54,006
Buffalo, NY$53,983
Dayton, OH$53,967
Racine, WI$53,956
Charlotte, NC$53,950
Saint Louis, MO$53,933
York, PA$53,900
Elkhart, IN$53,900
Gastonia, NC$53,889
Billings, MT$53,876
Beaumont, TX$53,861
Lorain, OH$53,849
Benton Harbor, MI$53,838
Toledo, OH$53,827
Binghamton, NY$53,799
Rock Hill, SC$53,794
Rockford, IL$53,766
Springfield, IL$53,743
Elyria, OH$53,738
Fargo, ND$53,738
Flagstaff, AZ$53,699
Fort Lauderdale, FL$53,665
Duluth, MN$53,632
Miami, FL$53,632
Cheyenne, WY$53,593
Grand Forks, ND$53,593
Bangor, ME$53,470
Cedar Rapids, IA$53,408
Durham, NC$53,385
Louisville, KY$53,381
Grand Rapids, MI$53,369
Hialeah, FL$53,364
Casper, WY$53,286
Scranton, PA$53,219
New Orleans, LA$53,202
Virginia Beach, VA$53,196
Akron, OH$53,168
Peoria, IL$53,096
Sarasota, FL$53,085
Nashville, TN$53,046
Omaha, NE$53,046
Green Bay, WI$53,046
Baton Rouge, LA$53,018
Charleston, SC$53,007
Jamestown, NY$52,979
Davenport, IA$52,979
Tucson, AZ$52,951
Saint Petersburg, FL$52,917
Tampa, FL$52,906
Evansville, IN$52,873
Port Arthur, TX$52,873
Bradenton, FL$52,850
Santa Fe, NM$52,750
Orlando, FL$52,649
Clearwater, FL$52,633
Canton, OH$52,515
La Crosse, WI$52,515
Albuquerque, NM$52,482
Newport News, VA$52,476
High Point, NC$52,460
Ogden, UT$52,437
Corpus Christi, TX$52,393
Norfolk, VA$52,359
Laramie, WY$52,359
Rock Island, IL$52,326
Saginaw, MI$52,314
Jacksonville, FL$52,309
Salisbury, NC$52,298
Boise, ID$52,287
Moline, IL$52,259
Fort Myers, FL$52,242
Memphis, TN$52,231
Tulsa, OK$52,203
Waterloo, IA$52,169
Spartanburg, SC$52,113
Lincoln, NE$52,086
Fort Wayne, IN$52,074
Provo, UT$52,069
Cedar Falls, IA$52,002
San Antonio, TX$51,979
Greensboro, NC$51,957
South Bend, IN$51,952
Savannah, GA$51,890
Muskegon, MI$51,868
Birmingham, AL$51,862
Winston Salem, NC$51,835
Lake Charles, LA$51,700
Anderson, IN$51,689
Lexington, KY$51,672
Augusta, GA$51,656
Greenville, SC$51,656
Lima, OH$51,611
Wichita, KS$51,605
Tuscaloosa, AL$51,605
Columbia, SC$51,555
Springfield, OH$51,544
Asheville, NC$51,455
Bloomington, IN$51,416
Knoxville, TN$51,215
Shreveport, LA$51,209
Wilmington, NC$51,137
Roanoke, VA$51,137
Topeka, KS$51,036
Frankfort, KY$51,030
Oklahoma City, OK$50,991
Chillicothe, OH$50,969
Longview, TX$50,964
Melbourne, FL$50,958
Sioux Falls, SD$50,869
Mobile, AL$50,863
Terre Haute, IN$50,841
Altoona, PA$50,807
Amarillo, TX$50,768
Killeen, TX$50,751
Fayetteville, AR$50,707
Chattanooga, TN$50,690
Sioux City, IA$50,640
Idaho Falls, ID$50,629
Lynchburg, VA$50,584
Gainesville, FL$50,511
Portsmouth, OH$50,484
Little Rock, AR$50,472
Lafayette, LA$50,450
Youngstown, OH$50,450
Daytona Beach, FL$50,417
Clarksville, TN$50,411
Pensacola, FL$50,405
Temple, TX$50,401
Hopkinsville, KY$50,238
Erie, PA$50,227
Florence, SC$50,204
Charleston, WV$50,115
Great Falls, MT$50,087
Macon, GA$50,009
Tallahassee, FL$50,003
Fayetteville, NC$49,992
Waco, TX$49,981
Helena, MT$49,942
Pine Bluff, AR$49,921
Vincennes, IN$49,853
Lubbock, TX$49,830
Alamogordo, NM$49,797
Twin Falls, ID$49,747
Rapid City, SD$49,730
Jackson, MS$49,629
Huntington, WV$49,626
Greenville, MS$49,624
Parkersburg, WV$49,567
Montgomery, AL$49,557
Wichita Falls, TX$49,501
Springfield, MO$49,501
Biloxi, MS$49,473
Monroe, LA$49,417
Johnstown, PA$49,378
Sumter, SC$49,356
Columbus, GA$49,350
Pascagoula, MS$49,244
Abilene, TX$49,244
Kingsport, TN$49,099
Albany, GA$49,099
Gulfport, MS$49,082
Alexandria, LA$48,898
Fort Smith, AR$48,759
El Paso, TX$48,608
Las Cruces, NM$48,357
Harlingen, TX$48,215
Pocatello, ID$48,206
Florence, AL$48,133
Brownsville, TX$48,122
Mcallen, TX$48,005
Dothan, AL$47,927
Columbus, MS$47,595
Altus, OK$47,335
Lawton, OK$47,229
Pierre, SD$47,028
What Skills Can Increase a Video Games Tester's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Analysis (Mentioned in 6.51% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Software Testing (Mentioned in 2.91% Job Postings): Software testing is an investigation conducted to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the software product or service under test. Software testing can also provide an objective, independent view of the software to allow the business to appreciate and understand the risks of software implementation. Test techniques include the process of executing a program or application with the intent of finding software bugs (errors or other defects), and verifying that the software product is fit for use. Software testing involves the execution of a software component or system component to evaluate one or more properties of interest. In general, these properties indicate the extent to which the component or system under test: meets the requirements that guided its design and development, responds correctly to all kinds of inputs, performs its functions within an acceptable time, it is sufficiently usable, can be installed and run in its intended environments, and achieves the general result its stakeholders desire.
Software Development (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): Software development is the process of conceiving, specifying, designing, programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and maintaining applications, frameworks, or other software components. Software development is a process of writing and maintaining the source code, but in a broader sense, it includes all that is involved between the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation of the software, sometimes in a planned and structured process. Therefore, software development may include research, new development, prototyping, modification, reuse, re-engineering, maintenance, or any other activities that result in software products. Software can be developed for a variety of purposes, the three most common being to meet specific needs of a specific client/business (the case with custom software), to meet a perceived need of some set of potential users (the case with commercial and open source software), or for personal use (e.g. a scientist may write software to automate a mundane task). Embedded software development, that is, the development of embedded software, such as used for controlling consumer products, requires the development process to be integrated with the development of the controlled physical product. System software underlies applications and the programming process itself, and is often developed separately.
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 Video Games Tester's salary.
IDEA: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Social Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Penetration Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Video Games Tester Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Video Games Tester roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Video Games Tester positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Nondurable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Video Games Tester as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Video Games Tester
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals
$66,984
$32.0
20%
Biotechnology
$64,193
$31.0
15%
Financial Services
$64,193
$31.0
15%
Software & Networking
$64,193
$31.0
15%
Energy & Utilities
$61,402
$30.0
10%
Video Games Tester Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Video Games Tester'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.
Salaries for a Video Games Tester can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $57,118 in 2023
to around $58,169 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Video Games Tester salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Video Games Tester Over Time
$???
$57,118
$58,503
$58,169
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$57,118
2024
$58,503
2025
$58,169
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Video Games Tester
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Video Games Tester
Here are companies hiring for Video Games Tester and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
Find Your Next Video Games Tester Job
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Video Games Tester job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
For Employees
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Get a Salary Increase
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Search Job Openings
For Employers
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Adjust Employee Salary
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Price My Industry Jobs
FAQ about Video Games Tester
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Video Games Tester?
The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Video Games Tester roles,
with salaries approximately 20% above the market median.
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.
