Game Developer Salaries
- The median game developer salary is $208,000 (middle half $159,000–$249,500), based on 672 disclosed-pay US job postings over the last 12 months as of September 2026, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- Outside California, the median is $141,600 (middle half $125,000–$180,000) from 127 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- The starting salary for a game developer (entry-level/Junior) is $90,000, based on 11 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
- A senior game developer earns a median of $208,300 from 278 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
On this page, “game developer” means the programmers and engineers who build games — gameplay, engine, tools, graphics, online and more — also searched as “game programmer salary.” Game designers, artists, and producers have their own salary pages: Game Designer, Game Artist & Animator, and Game Producer.
Outside California: $141,600 median (127 postings). 69% 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 | — | 3 |
| Entry-level / Junior | $90,500 | $86,000–$90,500 | 8 |
| Mid-level / unspecified | $158,900 | $119,500–$178,400 | 159 |
| Senior | $208,300 | $169,000–$221,300 | 278 |
| Lead | $245,000 | $208,000–$320,100 | 141 |
| Manager / Director | $279,000 | $217,000–$371,300 | 79 |
The starting salary for a game developer (entry-level/Junior) is $90,000, based on 11 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Top-Paying US States
| State | Median | Postings |
|---|---|---|
| California | $220,000 | 466 |
| Washington | $164,400 | 35 |
| Texas | $150,000 | 11 |
| New York | $144,500 | 26 |
| Colorado | $132,500 | 18 |
Studios With the Most Salaried Postings
| Studio | Salaried Postings |
|---|---|
| Roblox | 154 |
| Discord | 86 |
| PlayStation | 43 |
| Samsung Semiconductor | 39 |
| Unity Technologies | 21 |
| Electronic Arts | 19 |
| bet365 | 18 |
| Aristocrat | 15 |
| Rockstar Games | 14 |
| The Pokémon Company | 12 |
Current Open Roles With Salaries
Salary Trend
| Month | Median | N |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-03 | $208,300 | 136 |
| 2026-04 | $209,400 | 38 |
| 2026-05 | $214,300 | 54 |
| 2026-06 | $220,000 | 67 |
| 2026-07 | $218,900 | 107 |
| 2026-08 | $180,000 | 177 |
| 2026-09 | $200,000 | 93 |
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 developer salary?
The median game developer salary is $208,000 (middle half $159,000–$249,500), based on 672 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 developer?
The starting salary for a game developer (entry-level/Junior) is $90,000, based on 11 disclosed US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
How much does a senior game developer make?
A senior game developer earns a median of $208,300 from 278 US postings, per Gaming Job Tracker data.
Is a game developer the same as a game programmer?
On this page, yes — the figures cover programming and engineering postings. Game designers, artists and producers have their own salary pages.
672 US postings with disclosed pay, last 12 months. Data last refreshed 2026-09-14. See all game industry salaries →