Salary for Industry: Entertainment or Game Software

Video Game Programmer Salary Data

For anyone who loves playing video games, becoming a video game programmer might sound like a dream. In fact, many people who work in the industry started out as hobbyists who enjoyed programming video games for fun. If you have both enthusiasm for games as well as an aptitude for programming, this is a natural career choice. Video game programming is a field that is fairly specialized; most programmers work on just one aspect of gaming software, which means that the programming languages and tools used will vary depending on the position and type of game being developed. While you don't necessarily need a Computer Science Degree in order to work as a video game programmer, on-the-job experience can make a difference when it comes to earning a higher salary.

Take a look at the chart comparing a Video Game Programmer Salary to salaries for related job titles and you'll find that the median video game programmer salary ranges from around $60,000 to over $90,000 for a senior programmer. You can also see how experience affects a video game programmer salary by looking at the report on Game Industry Salaries by Years Experience, which shows that salaries can more than double over the course of 20 years. When considering a Video Game Programmer Salary by City, keep in mind that certain areas are definitely hot spots for industry jobs. The highest median salaries tend to be in cities in California and Washington, both states that are home to industry leaders. If you're looking for a company that offers a competitive video game programmer salary, the West Coast is a good place to start your search.

To expand your salary research, see how a video game programmer salary compares to a Video Game Designer Salary.