2008 Game Developer Salary Survey

Game Developer magazine has posted the results of its game developer salary survey and found that salaries are up by 7% in spite of the economy. Salaries for designers and artists were just under $70k a year while the folks in business & marketing were pulling down over $100k a year. Overall the average salary in the game industry in 2008 was $79,000.

The results of its eighth annual Game Developer Salary Survey, calculating an average American game industry salary in 2008 of $79,000, a 7% increase from 2007’s figure of nearly $74,000. While the recession is, anecdotally, significantly impacting the amount of jobs available in the U.S., the income of still-employed game industry professionals in 2008 continues to edge up.

Holy shit, I would love to be making that much a year.

Clearly, as they've constantly been telling us, piracy is destroying developers' livelihoods...

This is great news for the H-1B visa workers from India who will be brought over to take these jobs because of a "shortage of skilled workers". On the other hand we'll have tons of skilled workers sitting on the sidelines during a time of 10%+ unemployment.

Originally Posted by dopexile

This is great news for the H-1B visa workers from India who will be brought over to take these jobs because of a "shortage of skilled workers". On the other hand we'll have tons of skilled workers sitting on the sidelines during a time of 10%+ unemployment.

Most studios will take the most skilled workers they can get regardless of where they're from. Just as a single example, if you were to tour lucasarts studios you'd find people from all over the world. They really don't give a shit where you're from so long as you're on top of your game. So, sorry, but generally speaking in this context you're point doesn't really apply. Not to mention that this industry in particular is spread all over the world anyway. Just as many americans certainly go overseas for these jobs as there are foreigners coming in.

Originally Posted by MavericK96

Holy shit, I would love to be making that much a year.

Clearly, as they've constantly been telling us, piracy is destroying developers' livelihoods...

Don't think this means piracy isn't still a major problem, it is. Developer salaries are only a small portion of where the revenue from a game goes. Games today are not written by a guy in his basement living off of Ho-Ho's and Mountain Dew. They are made by teams of people, who must be paid, insured, taxed, provided adequate office space, office equipment, PCs, servers, etc. All of that costs more than just their salaries. There is also marketing, manufacturing, distribution, and support. And you still need to make a profit on top of all those costs so that you can have working capitol to sustain the development cycle of the next title. Piracy eats into all of that.

Originally Posted by dopexile

This is great news for the H-1B visa workers from India who will be brought over to take these jobs because of a "shortage of skilled workers". On the other hand we'll have tons of skilled workers sitting on the sidelines during a time of 10%+ unemployment.

You do know that visa workers are not paid in rupees, right? Did you mean to troll about outsourcing to other countries?

Dang these salaries seem awfully low. I develop at a small startup doing web apps and I make almost that much, and I'm fairly fresh out of college. Game devs have way better chops then me, so it's a shame they don't make more. I guess as long as they enjoy what their doing, that's what really counts anyways.

I pity anyone who goes into game development.

Originally Posted by Makenxero

Dang these salaries seem awfully low. I develop at a small startup doing web apps and I make almost that much, and I'm fairly fresh out of college. Game devs have way better chops then me, so it's a shame they don't make more. I guess as long as they enjoy what their doing, that's what really counts anyways.

It's just one of those professions that's glamorized in the minds of youngsters. There's a lot of very talented people wanting to do that type of work. Lot's of competition = lower wages. Keeping in mind that I live in a very low cost of living part of the country, I would do some of those jobs for nearly 1/2 that....at least for the "foot in the door" period.

I feel there must be a connection between the business types making more than the developers and other creative content producers and the lack of quality games.

Originally Posted by jimmyb

I pity anyone who goes into game development.

I pity anyone who doesn't pursue a career that they truly enjoy.

Originally Posted by Madman0

I feel there must be a connection between the business types making more than the developers and other creative content producers and the lack of quality games.

This is nothing new. People who do the ACTUAL work are always paid less than management. Any industry, you will see this. It's just the way the game is played.

Problem is, salaries and costs of living vary so much in different regions of the country. They really need to break it down regionally. $79k isn't really all that much in SoCal, but somewhere like Alabama or West Virginia, you're living like a king.

Wow, and here I am getting my PhD to make that kind of money. What was I thinking? Keep that in mind for those that think this isn't that much money.

Originally Posted by JethroXP

Don't think this means piracy isn't still a major problem, it is. Developer salaries are only a small portion of where the revenue from a game goes. Games today are not written by a guy in his basement living off of Ho-Ho's and Mountain Dew. They are made by teams of people, who must be paid, insured, taxed, provided adequate office space, office equipment, PCs, servers, etc. All of that costs more than just their salaries. There is also marketing, manufacturing, distribution, and support. And you still need to make a profit on top of all those costs so that you can have working capitol to sustain the development cycle of the next title. Piracy eats into all of that.

Yes, that's how a business works, and I understand that. While all of that is true, I still don't think they're suffering all that much due to piracy as many would have us believe. Honestly, the lack of any really great games recently is probably more to blame than anything.

Originally Posted by Tokamak

Wow, and here I am getting my PhD to make that kind of money. What was I thinking? Keep that in mind for those that think this isn't that much money.

Well, as has been pointed out, it depends where you live (cost of living). But I do agree, what were you thinking? lol. Isn't your student loans going to consume your entire salary for like 10 years.

But yeah, if these number are the case for say California, it's really not much money, not bad, but not a lot. But 70-80k in Cali is roughly like making 40-45ish where I live......but there's no game studios here either so......yeah.

Cost of living here (Seattle) is what I would consider pretty high, and I feel like $79K/year would be plenty for me to live comfortably here. Seattle is apparently the #13 highest cost of living in the US as of 2008. (Source)

Originally Posted by Steve

Salaries for designers and artists were just under $70k a year while the folks in business & marketing were pulling down over $100k a year. Overall the average salary in the game industry in 2008 was $79,000.

I find it odd that business & marketing people make a lot more money than the people who actually create what we are spending money for... not to mention business & marketing people are the ones who are making the industry (and our experience) worse and worse with more and more DRM crap.

Originally Posted by JethroXP

Games today are not written by a guy in his basement living off of Ho-Ho's and Mountain Dew. They are made by teams of people, who must be paid, insured, taxed, provided adequate office space, office equipment, PCs, servers, etc. All of that costs more than just their salaries. There is also marketing, manufacturing, distribution, and support. And you still need to make a profit on top of all those costs so that you can have working capitol to sustain the development cycle of the next title. Piracy eats into all of that.

All games? Hmm, I doubt it. I'll highlight one recent game in particular. World of Goo. Made by two guys, and probably it could have taken a bit longer for just one person to do it. It also took all of $10,000 to make, which was mostly rent, food and equipment. Granted, we don't know if they really ate only Ho-Ho's and Mountain Dew... Here's the info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Goo

Chit, Roofing pays that much...
If I finished college I would expect/require more...

Originally Posted by ShagnWagn

I find it odd that business & marketing people make a lot more money than the people who actually create what we are spending money for... not to mention business & marketing people are the ones who are making the industry (and our experience) worse and worse with more and more DRM crap.

Odd? It's the way the world works, there's nothing odd about it.

Originally Posted by ShagnWagn

All games? Hmm, I doubt it. I'll highlight one recent game in particular. World of Goo. Made by two guys, and probably it could have taken a bit longer for just one person to do it. It also took all of $10,000 to make, which was mostly rent, food and equipment. Granted, we don't know if they really ate only Ho-Ho's and Mountain Dew... Here's the info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_of_Goo

Didn't see him say "ALL" anywhere. But a blockbuster coming out of a basement is going to be a very rare circumstance. That $10,000 budget can easily be blown for equipment for 1 single worker, before you even get started doing anything. Sure, a couple guys who know what they're doing can get stuff done with very little resources. But their chances of being successful w/ that business model is akin to starting a garage rock band. You have to couple a lot of luck along w/ extremely hard work for a chance of making anything out of it. You also have to consider that financially they were taking a huge risk, given that the odds were against them that their work would even pay back at all.