Game Designer Salary
- The median game designer salary is $146,500 (middle half $116,500–$178,900), based on 115 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of October 2026, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- Outside California, the median is $140,000 (middle half $117,200–$176,200) from 30 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- The starting salary for a game designer (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 8 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- A senior game designer earns a median of $141,400 from 40 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Outside California: $140,000 median (30 postings). 47% 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 | Not enough data | — | 6 |
| Entry-level / Junior | Not enough data | — | 2 |
| Mid-level / unspecified | $114,400 | $89,400–$145,200 | 34 |
| Senior | $141,400 | $117,200–$163,300 | 40 |
| Lead | $175,000 | $162,500–$180,000 | 21 |
| Manager / Director | $240,000 | $198,100–$271,900 | 11 |
The starting salary for a game designer (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 8 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Top-Paying US States
| State | Median | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| California | $127,500 | 54 |
| Wisconsin | $117,200 | 9 |
Studios With the Most Salaried Postings
Current Open Roles With Salaries
Salary Trend
| Month | Median | N |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $162,500 | 11 |
| 2026-05 | $98,900 | 8 |
| 2026-06 | $178,300 | 11 |
| 2026-07 | $150,000 | 21 |
| 2026-08 | $155,000 | 19 |
| 2026-09 | $117,200 | 35 |
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 designer salary?
The median game designer salary is $146,500 (middle half $116,500–$178,900), based on 115 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 designer?
The starting salary for a game designer (entry-level/Junior) is $72,800, based on 8 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
How much does a senior game designer make?
A senior game designer earns a median of $141,400 from 40 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
115 US postings with disclosed pay, last 12 months. Data last refreshed 2026-10-05. See all game industry salaries →