This year salary survey by Game Career Guide Magazine has almost been the same like the previous year. Coding, just like the previous year, has emerged as the best profession considering the pay checks programmers got and the salary figures of almost all departments are pretty much the same. Let’s take a look at the paychecks of different professionals they got in 2010.
Programmers
Programmers were the most in-demand professionals in gaming industry and as a result, were most well paid. A junior programmer, with less than three years of experience, earned around $54,000. Experienced ones, those with more than three years of experience, got somewhat around $75000. Those with more than six years of experience made around $100,000.
Having a masters degree did gave an edge but very slight one. Those with masters degree were reported to have made approximately $700 more at entry level compared to the coders with only bachelors degree.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Junior Programmer: $53,488
Lead Programmer: $54,167
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Junior Programmer: $74,403
Lead Programmer: $81,722
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Junior Programmer: $99,502
Lead Programmer: $108,796
Technical Director: $126,554Designers
There is a difference of almost $10,000 between the salary of an entry level designer and the salary of an entry level programmer. A game designer with less than three years of experience earned around $45,000. Experience ones enjoyed an increase of $15,000 and the lucky ones at the position of lead designer earned around $74,000 per year. Game designers with more than six years of experience made around $77,000 per year while lead designers earned somewhat close to six figures.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Game Designer: $44,758
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Game Designer: $59,312
Lead Designer: $74,250
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Game Designer: $77,065
Lead Designer: $95,652Audio Engineers
Audio Engineers manage all the audio related work during video game development. The survey reports that in 2010, a fresh sound engineer, on average, made around $41,000. Experienced ones, with more than three years in the field, earned around $60,000 while the ones with more than six years of experience made around $79,000. Audio Directors has been reported to have earned in six figures.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Sound Engineers: $41,071
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Sound Engineers: $60,625
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Sound Engineers: $78,750
Audio Directors: $105,000Quality Assurance
Despite their importance, professionals related to quality assurance (QA) department are least paid compared to all other departments. A QA professional with less than three years of experience earned a meager sum of $31,000. Experience didn’t make any huge difference either, with professionals with more than three years of experience made around $42,000 while with more than six years of experience earned around $62,000.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Tester: $31,250
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Tester: $42,500
Leader: $44,833
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Tester; $54,350
Leader: $62,500Artists & Animators
Salaries remain solid in this department, with an entry level artist got close to $45,000. Those with more than three years in this field earned around $61,000 while with more than six years made somewhat around $87,000.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Artist & Animator: $44,643
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Artist & Animator: $60,887
Lead Artist: $61,667
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Artist & Animator: $86,563
Lead Artist: $89,519
Art Director: $107,206Producers
Money is good in this field, especially for experienced ones. Fresh entrants in this field made around $43,000 while with some experience (more than three years) earned around $54,000.
LESS THAN THREE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Associate Producer: $42,500
Associate Producer: $42,500
THREE TO SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Associate Producer: $54,265
Project Leader: $76,532
Executive Producer: $102,500
MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
Associate Producer: $60,278
Project Leader: $93,932
Executive Producer: $132,065Click here to read complete report at Game Career Guide 2011 issue.
