Game Designer Salary
- The median game designer salary is $141,400 (middle half $110,800–$174,600), based on 98 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of September 2026, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- Outside California, the median is $119,800 (middle half $104,300–$165,700) from 22 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 35 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Outside California: $119,800 median (22 postings). 50% 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 | $111,500 | $89,400–$148,000 | 28 |
| Senior | $141,400 | $117,200–$160,600 | 35 |
| Lead | $173,500 | $162,500–$179,600 | 17 |
| Manager / Director | $240,000 | $193,700–$271,900 | 9 |
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 | 49 |
Studios With the Most Salaried Postings
| Studio | Salaried Postings |
|---|---|
| Blizzard Entertainment | 11 |
| Electronic Arts | 8 |
| Activision | 8 |
| Absurd Ventures | 6 |
| Mob Entertainment | 4 |
| WB Games / Warner Bros. Discovery | 4 |
| Roblox | 4 |
| Raven Software | 4 |
| Xbox Game Studios / ABK | 4 |
| Turtle Rock Studios | 3 |
Current Open Roles With Salaries
Salary Trend
| Month | Median | N |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $162,500 | 11 |
| 2026-04 | $163,300 | 8 |
| 2026-05 | $98,900 | 8 |
| 2026-06 | $193,000 | 8 |
| 2026-07 | $150,000 | 21 |
| 2026-08 | $165,900 | 20 |
| 2026-09 | $89,400 | 22 |
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 $141,400 (middle half $110,800–$174,600), based on 98 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of September 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 35 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
98 US postings with disclosed pay, last 12 months. Data last refreshed 2026-09-14. See all game industry salaries →