On average, as a game designer you can expect to make $67,000 to $68,000 per year, of course with the addition of bonuses always possible.  It is really tricky to try to pin point an exact salary for most gamers.  That’s because there are too many different types of careers in video games.

What is a Video Game Designer‘s Salary?

The lower end of the design spectrum includes level designers.  They are expected to come in making around $60,000.  A mid-level designer will make around $67,000 with the upper end being around $70,000.  A senior game designer who has moved up to the title of  creative director can expect to pull in between $125,000 to $150,000 per year.  Of course, this is before bonuses.

Current State Of the Video Game Industry

Currently 94% of designers are males.  That is a problem because gaming is no longer a hobby of just young men. Female designers are needed badly in the industry right now.  Gaming is expanding into mass market, with more game appealing to a multi-cultural audience.

As gaming continues to evolve into a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-national industry salaries will increase as jobs become more and more specialized.  American game designers now have to compete with designers from nations such as Thailand, the Philippines, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia.  As always, the top designers from the world’s crop of talent will always be able to demand a premium salary.

In every industry there is a point where globalization and specialization comes into play.  Gaming is at that point.  It is becoming more important now than ever for gamers to get as many great projects as possible under their belts.

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