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How much does Game Developer make?
Total pay range
$73K - $130K/yr
$97K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$61K - $109K/yrBase pay
$11K - $21K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
Last updated Apr 10, 2025871 Salaries submitted
How accurate is a total pay range of $73K-$130K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Engineering?
Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.
Game Developer salary in US
A Game Developer salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Game Developer in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $42,183 to $105,898 per year, based on 17 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Game Developer in US can make a salary range of $47,492 to $115,669 with at least 5 years of experience, based on 679 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Game Developer gets the highest compensation are Intel Corporation, Niantic Inc and Lucasfilm Ltd.. Bigger companies typically pay 35.00% more than smaller companies for a Game Developer.
Recent salaries shared by Game Developer
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Game Developer
|
1-3 years
$114K - $133K/yr
Bellevue, WA
submitted on Jun 30, 2026
$114K - $133K/yr
Game Developer
|
1-3 years
$148K - $172K/yr
Santa Clara, CA
submitted on Jun 12, 2026
$148K - $172K/yr
Game Developer
|
4-6 years
$78K/yr
($78K • $0)
Newton, MA
submitted on Jun 5, 2026
$78K/yr
$78K • $0
Game Developer
|
10-14 years
$98K - $112K/yr
Boca Raton, FL
submitted on May 27, 2026
$98K - $112K/yr
Game Developer
|
10-14 years
$43K/yr
($43K • $0)
Austin, TX
submitted on Apr 29, 2026
$43K/yr
$43K • $0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Game Developer
|
10-14 years
$78K - $91K/yr
Marana, AZ
submitted on Apr 20, 2026
$78K - $91K/yr
Game Developer
|
7-9 years
$28K/yr
($28K • $0)
Atlanta, GA
submitted on Apr 13, 2026
$28K/yr
$28K • $0
Game Developer
|
4-6 years
$94K/yr
($94K • $0)
California, PA
submitted on Apr 10, 2026
$94K/yr
$94K • $0
Game Developer
|
1-3 years
$50K - $58K/yr
Austin, TX
submitted on Apr 7, 2026
$50K - $58K/yr
Game Developer
|
4-6 years
$64K - $75K/yr
Huntsville, AL
submitted on Mar 19, 2026
$64K - $75K/yr
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Game Developer in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $114,254, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $102,865, Human Resources & Staffing with a median total pay of $91,176, Arts, Entertainment & Recreation with a median total pay of $90,156, and Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $88,182.
Information Technology
Top paying companies in Information Technology for Game Developer are Roblox, Microsoft, and AppLovin.
Frequently asked questions about Game Developer salaries
The average salary for Game Developer is $96,661 per year or $46 per hour, with top earners making up to $168,156 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $72,570 (25th percentile) to $129,751 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 871 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Game Developer employees.
The highest salary for Game Developer is $129,751 per year, $10,813 per month or $62 per hour.
The lowest salary for Game Developer is $72,570 per year, $6,048 per month or $35 per hour.
Game developers are paid well above average, often receiving six-figure salaries. The pay range reflects the demand for their skillset and the profitability of the products they develop. Candidates with prior experience in the field or higher levels of education generally receive higher salaries. Pay is expected to grow as the digital transformation reaches a global level. Game developers can further increase their total pay by pursuing freelance consulting opportunities.
Anonymous ratings collected by Glassdoor indicate that 68% of game developers are satisfied with their current salary. Game developers may earn profit sharing and bonuses from successful games, which can add up to around $15,025.17 in additional earnings.
Your potential salary as a game developer most likely falls in the range of $56,094.05 to $168,156.42, with the average salary for game developers being around $81,635.84. With bonuses or commissions, your estimated total pay could be about $96,661.01. As you continue along your career path as a game developer and gain experience, your pay rate may increase over time.
Making more money in a game development career likely means enhancing your skills and learning new ones. Advancing your education and earning a higher degree in a related field, such as a master's or doctorate in computer science or programming, may increase your salary potential. In technology-dependent fields like game development, it's important to stay up to date with current technology and programs. Keeping ahead of the curve will increase your value in a fast-moving field. Try learning C++ and Java, then keeping up with any updates or changes to those languages.
When negotiating salary at a new game developer job, take into account the skills you have and the benefits you want. Use give-and-take phrasing, like "seeing as your company would benefit from these skills, [your desired benefits and salary] would be a fair agreement." Remember, the goal is to find something that works for both parties. If you're negotiating your salary in your current game developer position, use any projects you've worked on to help demonstrate why you've earned a higher salary. Commercial success from any games you've worked on is a great point to include, as it demonstrates value you've already brought the company.