The average salary for gaming industry professionals in the United States in 2025 was $142,000, according to a new report.
The 2025 Gaming Industry Salary Report, conducted by the GDC Games Festival, surveyed 562 U.S.-based employees in July 2025.
It found that 60% of respondents said the average salary had increased “slightly” compared to what they earned last year.
Breaking it down, 25% of respondents reported salaries between $125,000 and $199,999, while 23% earned between $50,000 and $99,999. 5% said their salary was less than $15,000.
The report notes that those working at AAA studios, individuals at large companies, and those hired or assigned to jobs receive higher salaries.
For example, 85% of those working at AAA studios earned more than $100,000, compared to 75% at AAA studios and 50% at indie studios.
Seniority and years in the industry were also found to influence wages, although education “does not appear to have a significant impact on average wages—except for those with a master's or Ph.D. degree.”
When looking at average salaries by job title, those working in management and operations earned the highest amount at $160,000, while artists earned $124,000.
You can see a full breakdown of average salaries by position below:
- Fine art: $124,000.
- Audio: US$132,000
- Game Design: $133,000
- Business and Marketing: $134,000.
- Game programming: $150,000.
- Management and Operations: $160,000.
80% of US gaming industry professionals said their current salary “meets or exceeds their basic needs.” However, more than half of those surveyed believe they are “somewhat or significantly underpaid” for their work. This view rose to 69% among contractors, consultants and part-time workers.
Women and non-binary people (60%) also reported feeling under-rewarded for their work, as did people of color (62%). By comparison, 50% of men and 50% of workers identify as “exclusively white.”
While 33% said their employers are “working to close existing pay gaps” for underrepresented workers, one-tenth said no efforts are being made.
The study also found that people of color on average earn 27% less than their white peers, and women earn 24% less than men. The GDC noted that the current gender pay gap in the US is about 15%.
Elsewhere, a quarter of those surveyed had suffered layoffs in the last two years, with nearly half never finding a job.
When asked about the stability of game development compared to other industries, 80% of respondents described the profession as “less secure.”
