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Average Developer Salary In 2009: $75,573

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by Matthew Kato on April 13, 2010 at 01:00 PM
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Game Developer Research has published its ninth annual survey of developer salaries, and this year's figure of $75,573 is down four percent from last year's average of $79,000. The firm, which provides analysis for Game Developer Magazine and website Gamasutra also breaks down its figures via job function, experience, gender, and other lines.

Certainly the economic slump the country is experiencing plays a role in the decline, although Game Developer Research points out that 2009 represents the second-highest average salary in the life of the survey. As the video game industry changes and developers are using new business models, the $75,573 average figure represents what the GDR classifies as the "mainstream," as opposed to people employed by themselves or at smaller indie developers.

Some interesting tidbits:

  • Programmers are the highest paid employees in the industry next to business or executive jobs, pulling in an average income of $80,320. GDR points out that experience pays for programmers, with the six-year mark representing a significant bump in pay.
  • According to the survey, the field of production shows the largest percentage of women (at 18 percent) in a non-business, development sector. This is nearly twice the industry average.
  • Testers in quality assurance departments usually have the least experience and are the lowest paid (at an average of $37,905), although this figure doubles around the sixth year on the job.
  • The discipline of art and animation was one of the few areas to show an average salary bump this year, up two percent to $71,071.
  • Even after a six percent decline this year, people in business and marketing (including everything from PR to executives) represent the highest paid sector with an average salary of $96,408.

What are your thoughts on these stats? For those of you who want to jump into the industry, which of these specific fields listed above interest you the most?

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Comments
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  • by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:07 PM
    Well, I'm assuming that since most of those wanting to jump in would have to be testers for a given time frame, it wouldn't actually be all that bad of a salary to begin with.
  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:09 PM
    ***! I'm in the wrong business...which is the business of sitting on my ass all day...which doesn't pay too well...I wanna be developer now

  • by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:17 PM

    what about music composer's? or sound design? those guys are a very important part of the process. i always wanted to do that. but all big budget game are calling in john willaims and other industry pro's.

    chaos theory had a cool soundtrack. can any one remember the artist/composer?

    he also did some work on infamous.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:17 PM

    Daffy, you need to be good at what you do to make 75k+. There are some that make much less than that.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:18 PM

    Hey Kato I was just thinking about this today. Could you do a report on the steps of a game being made like the order. Thank again man

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:18 PM

    Man... where were these figures when I was being told by the game development market was over-saturated and a pipe dream... that may still be true, but at least if you make it it's pretty decent wage.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:18 PM

    I should quit writing and get a job as a game tester, those guys make more scratch than me.

  • Staff
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:29 PM

    $38k average for testers...wonder if that counts all the contract QA schlubs working crazy crunch time with no benefits.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:30 PM
    Do WHAT!? $75K?
    Dear Infinity Ward: I heard you might be hiring. I am a spiffy-keen AutoCAD 3D enigineer who's cute and funny with a slight Cajun accent. I can 3D model all kinds of stuff for your games and have little to no problem adapting my skills to whatever modeling software you use. Relocation is desirable for me as I currently live in Louisiana. Louisiana, yeah, it's not as cool as they make it out to be. I'll take $70K to start since I'm all dope like that. Holla back, kid!
    Sincerely,
    Dave
    letsgoswimming@yourhouse.com
  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:35 PM

    @ joshole-1984

    Amon Tobin was the composer for Chaos Theory.

    And btw, how much are designers making on average, as this is the field I am very interested in.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:39 PM

    Amon Tobin did the soundtrack for Chaos Theory?!? I may have to play that game now.

  • by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 01:41 PM

    I am so glad to see that the art and animation departments got a bump in salary as that is the field I am applying in.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:02 PM
    Good to know seeing as i'm looking at going into the industry. 70,000 a year for animation makes me warm inside:)
  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:16 PM

    What would a level designer be above? I think art and animation but I could be wrong.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:29 PM

    I hope I don't have to spend too long in QA

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:44 PM

    my god. not bad numbers for such great jobs. id really like to jump into the industry as a tester while i go to school for something like programming.

    also, if you guys wouldnt mind, whats the average salary for someone who works on a video game magazine like GI, or a website like Gamespot?

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:45 PM

    Ugh. Too bad studios are closing left and right.

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 02:51 PM

    It's no surprise that the business sector remains relatively intact

  •
    by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 03:02 PM

    That is decent pay. Could easily live off that provided you never get a serious illness (but that is another topic altogether).

  • by Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 03:04 PM

    I'm a programmer, so I can say this, they should add to the pay of the developer that you also have a hard time getting a date because your entirely on the mechanical side of your brain all the time, the only thing that fills you up is Mountain Dew and the end of each project means you have a chance of losing your job and having to look for another one.

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