The typical game developer salary is between $46,955 to $103,856 per year. Junior talent can expect up to $69,158 of annual earnings, while mid-level specialists are hired for $95,890. The average game developer salary for seniors reaches a maximum of $142,522.
As of Oct 26, 2023, the average annual pay for a Game Developer in the United States is $115,155 a year. That works out to be approximately $55.36 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,214/week or $9,596/month.
The mean game developer salary in Melbourne is $52,464. A Junior game developer’s salary in Melbourne equals $34,000, while mid-level programmers are paid $42,000. Seniors are compensated the most with $66,000 per year. Brisbane offers an average game developer salary of $52,126 per annum.
The average salaries a Game Developer will earn in Russia is 1,077,700 RUB per year, ranging from the lowest average salary of about 528,500 RUB to the highest average salary of 1,678,300 RUB.
Some game development companies are paying bonuses and profit shares to their developers ranging from $2,000 to $70,000 per year dependent on performance and product success. The average additional compensation is $26,872.
According to the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), as a first- or second-year Game Developer, you can expect an average salary of $57,000. With over 6 years of experience, you can expect an average annual compensation of $70,000.
Entry-level to Senior Salary Progression
A developer’s salary varies based on experience, location, skills, and gender. Entry-level developers may start with a lower salary, but gain salary growth as they gain more years of experience and demonstrate their skills, potentially reaching higher income brackets.
The salary differences between junior, mid-level, and senior developers can be significant. Junior developers typically earn $50,000 to $80,000 per year. Mid-level developers earn $70,000 to $120,000 per year. Senior developers earn $120,000 to $180,000 per year or more. Lead developers earn even higher salaries from $150,000 to $250,000 or more per year.
Game Development Career Insights
Is it hard to be a game developer? Game development difficulty ranges from easy to extremely difficult depending on what you are trying to achieve. Building an endless runner game with simple graphics is not that hard. However, building a triple-A open world game is extremely hard.
To become a game developer you must:
- Understand and Play Games
- Have specific technical knowledge, creative skills, and problem-solving abilities
- Work collaboratively as part of a team
Game development requires dedication and a willingness to continuously expand your knowledge and skills.