Video Game Industry : What Is the Salary of a Game Programmer?

[TheBladeEdge]

Do you have to live in America to be employed there?

[xXxDiukexXx]

Don't go to the dark side guys! D;

[MetalShin0bi]

I live in Austin, Tx, one of the meccas of game development and finding a job here is pretty damn easy. It's not too expensive here either. This goes for programmers and designers - even artists.

[shshadowkidd]

@Kansyn What about rent? But yeah I totally agree with you lol. Thumbs up if you agree with Kansyn XD.

[Jabberwockxeno]

All I know is that I see goku in the background.

[zwaxman1992]

What is the difference between a Game Programmer and a game designer?

[Fapstep]

@zwaxman1992 Programmers make "it" work, designers choose what "it" is and how it will work

[Uuppi]

@zwaxman1992 Game designer designs the game = gameplay, characters, story etc. Game programmer does the programming.

[mariopot789]

wow is this still accurate? also I am a recently graduated jr. game programmer , around what salary range should i expect as an entry level programmer? I do know it's not a definite but understanding the market value for myself should help in my job search right ?

[HotPocketsBoy]

@mariopot789 listen to what he said. He said starting out it isn't 85,000. there is no way an entry level programmer is getting 85 G's a year. ain't happening

[mariopot789]

@HotPocketsBoy yeah i figured, wishful thanking lol

[coolyo366]

@ROAProductions Google iD Tech camps!!! Trust me it is helping me GREATLY. All aspects of tech careers are covered from photography to programming you name it, theyve got a camp for it! Also I reccomend Full Sail University as a college for Programming and design.

[ArcaneHudson]

@coolyo366 Full Sail is a scam

[coolyo366]

Wow that is not bad at all.....especially considering he said more experienced can earn a few million in bonuses!!

[ROAProductions1]

well i'm looking forward to being a video game director. I would join but i'm only 14. Do you have any great, free web sites that i can start on to be ahead of my class when i enter game designer's School? i want to already get started on my career so in less time i may quickly reach my way up to video game director to be successful in life and change the world because not only will this give me money and exp this will make me have an idea on what this world needs.So Please Help me Marc Mencher.

[ramprire]

I'd do it for free. But beware: I might fall dead after 3 weeks.

[xXxstewiedudexXx]

Im on ipod so i cant respond but that mr teb guys is wrong considering poeple that are game programmers are the few that know that info

[xXxstewiedudexXx]

My dream job is to work for valve as a programmer looks pretty good ao far

[000roblox]

cant wait to grow up THUMBS UP

[000roblox]

o shit

[deafdeadfishfloating]

He doesn't mention that in the past 3 years, the game industry has been taken absorbed by LARGER companies. Sony, Rockstar, etc. which pay OK, but REQUIRE 10-12 hour days, and weekends. RED DEAD had two years of (REQUIRED) weekend work; and then, they LAYED OFF the programmers when their work was done.

[drawmaster77]

game programmers make more then designers or artists on average :P

[genjutsugaara]

Im currently studying computer progamming and graphic design in japan..i will be a game director,meet u on E3 stage on the future bitch!! XDXD

[davids2kk]

graphics need to be better !

[jianh1989]

it's $85000 per month or per annum?

[Ilikemustard]

@jianh1989

Per annum obviously...

[kwajfreak]

@jianh1989 Per month.



[jianh1989]

@kwajfreak That's sick!

[bbestboy14]

@jianh1989 per year bro, if it was per month i would work harder in my programming 2 class cuz then i would be making 1 mil a year

[dms0087]

@jianh1989 well I think it's annum because no way you can get $ 85000 in a monthly...

[Kansyn]

@jianh1989 of course it's per year.

[supercoolbenwag]

that's not very much cash for a team of people who make more money than box offices. give those guys 1 mil a year. they deserve it. :)

[Kousaburo]

Keep dreaming kids, only those with friends or relatives in the industry can get jobs at major studios. Just like in the music industry, it's not what you know, it's who you know and all the degrees and qualifications in the world aren't likely to change that.

[MrTeaB]

@Kousaburo Your wrong- IT IS all about what you know. Major studios DO have jobs on offer. IF you have the talent. The industry is exploding and crying out for top quality coders. Study hard, practice and you can make it in what has got to be one of the most easily accessible industries of all time. The knowledge is all free and available on the internet, even the tools are available for free on the internet, you can also apply for the jobs for free on the internet. Your comment is complete bs.

[Kousaburo]

@MrTeaB Who are you, what are you and what studio do you work for?

[drawmaster77]

@Kousaburo so true

[ahelmbock]

@smoke5one3 The other thing is 95% of video game people jobs are in Silicon Valley orSoCal, where 85k$ goes not as far as it would in say St. Louis or New Orleans.

[manualmaniac1]

if i can go to work knowing that i can do my hobby there and be a part of somting i will be able to play and buy i accept the same salary as someone who works at MC Donalds!

[Daytron8000]

Dang, I want to be a game programmer.

[DeuceisLegit]

Programmers get paid royalty income? Wow!!!! I didn't know that.

[ahelmbock]

@DeuceisLegit Only if your game sells a lot do you get royalties. There's a sales threshold written into the game production contracts -- if your game sells more than that number of units, you get royalties. The threshold is high and really only gets urpassed if you work on a hit title. If you work on a hit, you make big bucks, but only if what you work on sells millions of copies.

[DeuceisLegit]

@ahelmbock, are you programmer in a gaming company? I started learning C++ independently so far through "C++ Without Fear" and now "Accelerated C++". I attend college and major in Computer Science. I'm a freshmen. I really want to learn C++ and eventually apply it to something like Opengl or Allegro. My long term goal is to become a programmer in a gaming company Any tips you can give me?

[playtube2000]

I would not do Video Gameing Testing for The Money I`ll Do it for the the free copies of games and The Fun of Games

[sounce311]

soon im going to finish my graphic design study the im going to work as a game designer. woot woot!!!!

[addidaswilson]

@sounce311 good luck dude, remember the name addidaswilson and "ps3" when u get the job, lolzz jk jk :P

[blasteryui]

85,000 isn't that much? Are you kidding, that's awesome!

[Kansyn]

so he's saying that you get 7,000 $ a month. lets see 500 for food, 200 for car, 100 for tv and internet, about 200 for water and electricity.6,000 dollars left to do what ever you want. well i could totally live with that

[Batistaisbest]

@Kansyn

i mean u gotta get the job first and be good enough to keep it but after that yeah 6,000 would be great especially considering you get to do what you love and get to play the games before theyre in the market

[ieatatsonic]

@Kansyn You're forgetting rent/home loan, and gas.

[Kansyn]

@ieatatsonic still having 5,500 - 5000 which is still a lot

[dms0087]

@Kansyn hahahah yap I agree with U I want to do that too woooo you can buy games,TV,MP3 whatever after you left so much money 6000 then haha

[volunteernation16]

@Kansyn free house?

[Kansyn]

@volunteernation16 yeah, I forgot the rent. Still. A lot of money left...

[Eatmybologna]

@Kansyn What he doesn't mention is the 90 hour work weeks and the fact that on average cg programmers only last about 7 years in the industry due to burnout.

[Eatmybologna]

@Kansyn Also 85000 after tax is more like 55000. Working 80-90 hours a week thats basically mininum wage.

[rod3067]

@Kansyn what about taxes?

[Kansyn]

@rod3067 still... you would have a lot of money left.

[rod3067]

@Kansyn well i don't know about the us, but in my country you would end with like 3 grand, still a decent ammount of money.

[lolperfektionlol]

@Kansyn you forgot about gas bill, insurance for your car, you house payment, cell phone bill lol

[Kansyn]

@lolperfektionlol tv and internet comes with the phone package included, insurance for your car is included in the 200 for car, by water I also meant gas for heating (who said electricity couldn't heat up things too?) and yeah that's it. lol

[cod007skilldfan]

@Kansyn Actually, the programmers themselves very often need to buy their own softwares and tech, meaning that a lot of the 6000 dollars go into buying equipment so they can continue their job.

[davidworkman9]

@cod007skilldfan No they don't...

- A computer programmer.

[xXSgofyyahXx]

Any different between a computer programmer and video game programmer?

[Kansyn]

@xXSgofyyahXx a game programmer will program for games. tehy will either use scripting languages, graphical languases or engineering languages. a computer programmer does aplications of any sort most cmmonly reffered as software developer

[rambo9792]

@luke2fast so what are you trying to say..the video pretty much says average $ 85k salary

[BigRig1512]

@rambo9791 Use your brain, if games tester earn $85k per month, that would mean they would earn $1million per year... if they really earned that dont you think everyone in the entire world would be doing it, you need next to no qualifaction... you stupid shit

[rambo9791]

@BigRig1512 well then ehow should have said it more clearly then..and dont insult if others want to know something...dumb bitch..tryin to be so tough...and yea so 85k a year means..how much a month ? and is that a good salary ?

[rambo9791]

is 85k $ monthly salary ?

[JONIMASAKIS]

thanx...im looking forward to become a programmer...the difficult part will aparently be finding an indusrty to be hired....

[hectichorse]

$1631 a week thats pretty good :)

[MrIFrench]

This might sound like a stupid question, but what do level designers do? Do they come up with the setting of the game or do they actually make it themselves on the computer using 3D stuff? Or maybe both?

[3sharky0623584]

I don't care off getting that much money i just want to make games

[ahcidkdfj]

So when he said you have to master the English language does that mean you have to make A++ on all you're English classes during high school?

Please somebody answer, without joking around.

[RIGENSTEIN]

@ahcidkdfj maybe not A++ in every English class, but you must (no should, must) be able to communicate in a fluid way in that language, usually the exams that matters in the end are the toefl ( the only one I know, but I think there could be others) that determine if you can study in an english speaking country, that if your native language is not english (I am a native spnish speaker myself). If you are talking about the English class of your school, dont worry about that, Buena Suerte.

[ahcidkdfj]

@RIGENSTEIN Well you see i'm ok when it comes to just speaking English.

But when it comes to spelling i'm terrible. When it comes to handwriting i'm terrible. When it comes to VOCABULARY...i'm dead.

It's not like i'm stupid but I know for sure that for vocabulary i'm below average when I compare myself to my friends and classmates.

I just find it very unfair that if I don't pass toefl or Sat I won't even be able to have a chance to study for a job like this.

It just doesn't make sense..

[RIGENSTEIN]

@ahcidkdfj Well you are aware that you have an obstacle, take an english course, and tell the instructor about what you just wrote to me to see if he/she can do something about it. You still have a long live in front of you, dont let something like this (is not like you are missing a limb) to stop you, the consequence if you at least dont try is the phrase"What if I would have done that....." during the rest of your live, do you want that? NO!!.... then you know what to do.

[ahcidkdfj]

@RIGENSTEIN And thank you for answering, I appreciate this.

You see I really don't care about the wage about this job, I actually want people to have fun and enjoy games with everyone else.

Anything but minimal wage of course.

[waterman1976]

give me a break! the day of american programmers making lots of money is dwindling. most of these jobs are being done by indians and chinese who are willing to take a much lesser salary!

[larryvisgar]

but whats the starting out hourly price?

[ITzR34LITY]

i dont wanna be game programmer developer or anything but i wanna be game desighner make my own characters my own levels and stuff and i also want to be game tester !

[tumeg24]

Im not gonna create games for the money. Im doing it because of my passion

[Sakaki709]

@tumeg24 That makes you a hero, my good sir!

[Barry3443]

Instead of listening to this guy's rubblish, take a look at some actual games recruitment sites such as Datascope - "Online Programmer, £21k", "Maths Programmer, £25k" or Aardvark Swift - "Lead PS3 Programmer £40k" (A lead programmer role would generally entail 5-10 years industry experience and 2 to 3 published titles). $85k is cloud cuckoo land, maybe 1% or less people in the industry earn this.

[Barry3443]

Utter bullshit. This guy obviously has a vested interested in making the job sound attractive, as that's how he makes his living. Million dollar bonus a year? What a joke. In 5 years as a programmer for 3 different companies I had one bonus of £1500, my starting salary was £12.5k and £23k after 5 years.

If you're starting out expect a salary of £18-£25k. Based on the number of hours you work (7-day, 14 hour shifts are not uncommon) your 'hourly rate' is equivalent to someone selling fries.

[number1Billfan]

@Barry3443 Are you Serious brotha? That f-king suckz man!!!

[ahcidkdfj]

@Barry3443 Which game did you program?

[JpProductionsz]

That's good money right there. I'm attending ITT Tech for game design to get my bachelor's so I can't wait until I graduate and start my career.

[ItachinoUchiha]

I cant understant sth. What a Game Programmer do and what a Game designer do? In what schools I have to go in order to become one?

[AwsomeAthiest]

@ItachinoUchiha

A game designer designs the game, the decide what the game looks like and what the storyline is.

A programmer or developer takes that design, takes the images that the graphics designers have made, and turns it into a game.

[ItachinoUchiha]

@AwsomeAthiest Nice! Ty for replying. So how does a programmer turn this into a game? Maths and other staff? And the designers job is just writing down how the game will look like??

[AwsomeAthiest]

@ItachinoUchiha

Yes pretty much, im a game development student, its my job to take the design and the images that the graphics artists have made, and write the program that turns it from images and sounds, into a playable game, in other words, create the executable that brings all the sounds and images come to life :).

[ItachinoUchiha]

@AwsomeAthiest Really awsome!! I really wanna follow this section of game making... What did you study and where exactly?? Thank you so much for the info! :)

[AwsomeAthiest]

@ItachinoUchiha

The company im training with is "train2game" based in the UK, im on the developers course which involves the programming aspect of game development :)

[ItachinoUchiha]

@AwsomeAthiest That's great! Good luck mate. You're so helpful :)

[AwsomeAthiest]

@ItachinoUchiha

No worrys, good luck with getting into game development :)

[ItachinoUchiha]

@AwsomeAthiest Thank you! May I ask you sth else? Do you enjoy the classes? I mean, are there any fun? I don't know how it will be and what games can you create so Im afrain of it I can say... :P Can you create DS or Wii games and stuff or only PC games?

[AwsomeAthiest]

@ItachinoUchiha

I believe that the games are compiled differently dependent on what console that the code is being used on, but it makes little difference to the programmer what format the game is for, the code that is created to make the game is much the same for each console.

Again im still a student so im not 100% :)

[MartyHITD]

@AwsomeAthiest Theres different languages for programming, most common ones are C++ and C#. Consoles are computers to and they use the same code. Its the structure that the games are made in that make they different. Older games on Pc such as Doom 3 stored files in "PAK" files and the engine had to unload the data from it. Take a PS2 disc and put it in your Pc and look at the file extenstions. You van also emulatute a PS2 Game on a Pc. But theres so much to learn. Most games are done in C++.

[ItachinoUchiha]

@ItachinoUchiha Yeah! :) Good luck

[romanul70]

$85,000 damn that`s good...you are doing what you like and get those money/year...sweet

[0Buzzard]

Money just makes people lazy and if you have money as a motivation, then the game will likely suck

[WarrenAch]

If you guys really so attracted about money,then go to B-School,get your M.B.A.,specialize on something related to Banking-Accounting-Law and you'll get a job straight out with a salary of 90k/year salary + a 80k signing bonus(depends where.)...

Gaming industry is like Med School you know...if you go there for money,you'll live with a loser feeling the rest of your life,passion is the key of success.The ones at IW that made mw2 were working with passion,no they are famous and popular.

[kiashadowwave]

@WarrenAch

Infinity Ward had no passion. They wanted to develop modern warfare games all along, but Activision told them to make World War 2 games.

If they had passion, they would have taken the risk and made Modern Warfare anyways, but they didn't. They wanted money, not passion. It took almost 8 years before Activision would let them make the game they wanted to.

If you sign a contract with Activision, you're selling your soul and your passion.

[WarrenAch]

How do you think they have been accepted in these studios ?They showed their passion,i know there is only money in business,but everything started with passion and motivation...

[Archlvt]

This guy is obviously sugarcoating everything to attract all the naive kiddies who think "omg halo rulez i wanna make games too lol!!1" A few private schools will do that too in order to make money off of you and leave your jobless at the end.

The average is closer to $60,000/yr for people who have EXPERIENCE. Less without it.

[MutantFrk]

This guy seems kind of full of it... game designers do NOT get million dollar bonuses / royalties like he says.. The ones that do are the small group of core founders of the MAJOR game companies in the whole country. EX: John Carmack (ID Software), Bobby Kotick (Activision), Michael Morhaime (Blizzard Entertainment). These are not your everyday game designers, and you won't be getting bonuses like that if you do job-placement through this guy's web site.

[ccricers]

Damn, I'm a php programmer and I only make 26k yearly (in the US)

[WarrenAch]

26k yearly ?If you work for a company,then get a lawyer,26k/year = over-exploit.

[nioxin3031]

I currently work as a level designer and 3d modeler for a reputable game studio. I don't normally disclose my earnings, but I make about $65k/yr with a 5% equitable revenue payout of each game I work on. However, keep in mind that I did go to college and have a life full of student loans and bills. Yes, it is an industry you can make money on, but if your just coming here for the money, you won't succeed. You really need to hold true to your passion of creating something you would want to play.

[TylerDurdennnnnnnnnn]

do games designers earn comission/royalties too?

[Rightnut20]

Starting off, no.

[MutantFrk]

It depends on the game studio - most of the large ones I believe not because there are so many employees (or if you do get a % cut of it, it's so small that it's trivial). At a smaller game company, they're more likely to give you a notable % cut of profits to keep you on the team and working.

[Assass1ns]

how much is that in euros

[Rnassif123]

i was thinking of doing a game designer but since i can also be an architect, i guess i will be an architect (pay is better) i really love games

[hunteromega93]

im only 12 in the 7th grade but my best friend and i are in to game designing..... we are doing alot of things to be in the buissness.

[APotatoWithAGun]

not for the money because i love games and the money will be good

[flavur]

eh same here man going to school for this now

[APotatoWithAGun]

oh im only in grade 10 and im 15 so i still have a long way to go but ill get there and my name is michael cremo maybe we will meet

[APotatoWithAGun]

im going to get this job

[mwtbdltr]

i want this job!!!

[NuraHawk]

Ive heard that a senior programmer can get up to 150 thousand a year

[ReakingVengence]

more than that man.

[blackdeckbox]

how many yrs u hav to work until ur a senior?

[NuraHawk]

Something like 3-4 i believe. It probably depends on who you work for.

[HorrorHiro]

@NuraHawk this is true if said senior isnt bad at what he/she does but thats not to say they must be the best in the industry either

[nepalihercules]

@NuraHawk way higher

[NuraHawk]

@nepalihercules just as well!

[chaosblood88]

@NuraHawk yeh but you have to be the crem de la crem, to get that

[nepalihercules]

@NuraHawk don't know about US but here in UK, our senior programmer gets about £195k a year including bonus and royalties

[mabdiuhrman]

Dream job !