Video Game Salary

Salaries in the Video Game Industry

One of the fastest growing job markets in the country , right now is , the video game design industry. This industry is taking in over $7 billion dollars as revenue yearly . So , every employer ,  in this job field , is looking for the brightest , the most talented new recruits ,  they can ever  find  and they are willing to pay those who fit the bill ,  a very good package. There are many employers like ; Blizzard, EA and Microsoft , leading the way and according to the Game Makers Salary Survey , this is what they are willing to pay.

Video Game Programmers

If you are a video game programmer and it does not matter if you specialize in AI , networking or graphic engines , you will on an average , earn more than the other jobs , in the industry . The starting salaries are down a little , from previous years , but that is only because many people have figured out that , the video gaming industry is almost recession proof and many college graduates are flooding the industry . Here is what you can expect to make .

Programmers and Engineers , first entering the business or with less than three years experience , can start off by making , on an average, $50,000 a year. If you have between three and six years of experience , you can plan to earn $66K a year and if you have six years and above  , you can make over $88K a year .

Lead programmers , make a little more , when they come in , but you will have more responsibilities. The entry level pay , for a lead programmer , is close to $56,000 a year. Once you have at least three years , under your belt , you should be getting an average of  about $83K a year. Once you have been in the business for over six years , you will make over $90K a year .

Video game technical directors , have a lot of responsibilities , so they are well paid , even at the entry level . For those coming into the business or having less than three years , in the industry , you can get an average of  $60,700 a year . Once you gain three to six years of experience , you can begin to get $73K a yea r. Those who are last in the business , for over six years , can expect to make around $110K each year which is one of the highest salaries for this job description ,  was reported at $195,500 !

Artist and Animators

In 2006 , a survey  found out  that artists and animators were making more money than previous years and that too ,  at all levels of experience . The largest rise in the salary has been  earned by those , with more than three years of experience . Artists have many responsibilities like ;  giving the game , its look and feel.  It seems at the entry level , artists may be paid a little less , but once you have the experience , you can actually make more money than the coders . We found that the highest salaried coder , made less than the highest paid artist itself . If you are an artist , here is what you can figure out on making :

A video game artist , that is either just entering the business or has less than three years of experience ,  can plan on making an average of  $41,500 a year. Once you have gained at least three years of experience , your earnings will increase to $53,300 . A game artist , who can last in this business for over six years , will make $66,700 a year.

Video game animators , will make an average of  $46,700 a year  , with three years of experience or less. There is quite an increase , once you make it past the three year mark , you can now make $67,000 a year . Once you have six years of experience , as a video game animator , you can now earn just over $75K a year.

If you are hired as a lead artist or an animator , you can expect a salary of just over $64K per year , until you have at least , three years of experience . Once you have over three years of job  experience , you will begin to make around $67K . Once you have a seniority position of the job , you can make anywhere from $80,000 to a whopping $215,000 a year !

Video Game Designers

When you were younger , you probably told your parents , that when you grew up , you were going to make video games. They probably did not pay much attention to your comments at that time, but now , you can actually make that dream job , a reality. The technical term ,  for those who "make" video games ,  is a game designer. The market for games designers  , is very competitive and it does not matter whether you are self-taught or are highly educated . The good thing is , this position also pays well , at all levels of experience . You will also find out  that the more capable you are , in the industry , the faster your salary will rise . Employers , are looking for people who can withstand the rigors of the job . One of the best pieces of advice , for a fresher is , to get a mentor to work with.

A video game designer , with less than three years of experience  ,will make , on an average $46K a year . With between three and six years of experience , a game designer , can bring home $55,600 a year . Once you have over six years of job experience , you can get an average of almost $70K a year.

If you are a creative director or a lead designer , you can bring home $45,000 a year , until you have over three years of experience . Then you can start to get , an average of  $54,000 a year . Lead designers or creative directors ,  with over six years of  experience will make around $81K a year . The highest reported salary , that we were able to find out , for a lead artist was $180,000 a year !

Video Game Producers

Video game producers , manage every aspect involved in creating a video game . They are in charge of every decision being made , right from the beginning to the end . They coordinate all the different departments involved and make sure , that the deadlines are met and the project stays within the budget . Becoming a video game producer  , takes a little time and  one of the best places to start is in Quality Assurance Department  .

Producers, sometimes , referred to as the project leaders ,  usually have a minimum of three years of experience , in the industry ,  so we have no idea of the figures of what someone who has less than three years of experience , would make . Once , you have had at least three years of experience of the job , you can be expected to bring home $62,000 on an average . With over six years of experience , you will begin to get an average of $80,000 a year.

Executive producers , have been known to make an average of $50,000 a year . Once you have over six years of experience , you can start to command a salary of almost $82K a year . Executive producers ,  with over six years of experience , will receive a six-figure salary . The highest salary we found was $200,000 a year !

Video Game Quality Assurance

If you are video game enthusiast, but have no technical skills , applying in the Quality Assurance department , is a great way , to gain entry . In fact , most producers have  once started in the QA department ,  have worked their way up the ladder  .

Becoming a game tester ,  is a dream job for most video game enthusiasts  and you can actually get paid to play games . You can expect to make $32,000 on an average , if you have less than three years of experience . You really do not begin to make more money , until you have over six years of experience and then you can make an average of $50,00 a year.

Any lead QA person ,  expects to make $40,000 a year  , until you have over three years of experience. You can then anticipate a salary of $50,000 for up to six years of experience . With more than six years of experience , you will begin to make $60,000, on an average . If you are really good and can last in this business , you get avail a major chunk as the highest reported salary for a lead QA is $215,000 !

Video Game Audio

This is a growing field in the gaming industry and the average salary has been increasing for the past few years . This is especially true for entry-level musicians . Right now , it does not matter , if you are a musician , audio engineer , composer, or a director , once you have six or more years of experience you will keep pace with the programmer's salary .

Sound designers or engineers , coming in at entry-level positions , can usually start with a salary of $50,000. Once you get over three years of experience , you can make $66,000 a year. A sound designer or engineer will make, on an average $74,000 a year , once they have reached  , six years or more experience  of the job.

Musicians or composers , in the video game design industry , will generally have a starting salary of $55,000 a year , until they  have around three years of experience . Once you have been in the industry,  for say , between three and six years ,  you will begin making $62K a yea r. If you have the will power to succeed ,  you can make an average of $90,000 a year , once you have over six years in the industry . The highest salary , we have found for a musician , is $215,000 a year !

Making a substantial living , is relatively easy , in this field; all you need is  good education and a resilient attitude . The salaries quoted above ,  are a result of  surveys done  and adequately reflect the average salaries , for each positions . As with any industry , the more experience , you have , the more money you can make . Now ,  you can tell your parents that " Yes ! in fact  , you can make a living out of playing video games . "