Game Artist & Animator Salary
- The median game artist salary is $134,800 (middle half $100,000–$169,400), based on 206 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of October 2026, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- Outside California, the median is $132,900 (middle half $92,800–$159,900) from 50 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- The starting salary for a game artist (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 12 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- A senior game artist earns a median of $131,200 from 75 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Outside California: $132,900 median (50 postings). 46% of the postings behind these figures are in California, where pay-transparency law makes disclosure mandatory and pay runs higher — so the California-weighted median sits above national estimates.
Median Salary by Level
| Level | Median | Middle half (25th–75th pct) | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intern | $72,800 | $72,800–$72,800 | 8 |
| Entry-level / Junior | Not enough data | — | 4 |
| Mid-level / unspecified | $94,700 | $88,000–$101,900 | 30 |
| Senior | $131,200 | $117,200–$146,500 | 75 |
| Lead | $166,300 | $148,400–$193,700 | 42 |
| Manager / Director | $180,700 | $144,900–$195,100 | 33 |
The starting salary for a game artist (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 12 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Top-Paying US States
| State | Median | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $233,700 | 9 |
| Wisconsin | $141,400 | 10 |
| California | $134,200 | 95 |
| Washington | $130,000 | 11 |
Studios With the Most Salaried Postings
| Studio | Salaried Postings |
|---|---|
| Mob Entertainment | 16 |
| Blizzard Entertainment | 13 |
| Absurd Ventures | 12 |
| Electronic Arts | 11 |
| Activision | 11 |
| Epic Games | 10 |
| 2K Games | 9 |
| Hovercraft | 8 |
| CD PROJEKT RED | 7 |
| Nex | 6 |
Current Open Roles With Salaries
Salary Trend
| Month | Median | N |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $135,000 | 34 |
| 2026-04 | $138,800 | 8 |
| 2026-05 | $142,500 | 17 |
| 2026-06 | $151,700 | 17 |
| 2026-07 | $135,200 | 28 |
| 2026-08 | $134,200 | 47 |
| 2026-09 | $117,200 | 53 |
Most disclosed pay comes from postings in pay-transparency states (CA, NY, WA, CO…) — this is not a national average. Read the methodology →
Looking for salary data outside the US, or in a currency other than USD? See the full multi-currency salary report →.
FAQ
What is the average game artist salary?
The median game artist salary is $134,800 (middle half $100,000–$169,400), based on 206 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of October 2026, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
What is the starting salary for a game artist?
The starting salary for a game artist (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 12 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
How much does a senior game artist make?
A senior game artist earns a median of $131,200 from 75 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
206 US postings with disclosed pay, last 12 months. Data last refreshed 2026-10-05. See all game industry salaries →