I know since we're all here on GameSpot, a site all about video games, many of us aspire to do something in the video game world. So I have took it upon myself to do a little bit of research to find out who in the video game industry is going buck wild on their yacht, and who is living in their 1 bedroom studio apartment w/ their toaster 5 inches from their shower. This is the information I have come up with. I will make this easy to read by putting the years of experience, then the average amount paid.
1) Programming:
Less than 3 or fewer years' experience only makes
about $53k a year.
3 - 6 years' experience makes a much healthier $74k
a year
over 6 years' experience and you can expect around
$91k.
That being said, if you are a lead programmer or a
technical director you can expect to make $20k -
$30k more a year.
In conclusion the average wage for a programmer
across all experience levels is only 82k a year.
Just enough to start a family since you will most
likely be living in or near San Francisco a city
with a high cost of living.
2) Art and Animations:
3 or fewer years' experience only about $46k
3 - 6 years' of experience is around $61k
And 6 years' or more and you can expect around $70k
Again if you're a lead artist or animator, or an
art director you can expect to make around $7k - $30k more a year.
Average across all levels of experience is only
$66k. Nope, not big pimpin' yet.
3) Game Design:
3 or fewer years' and you can expect $43k
3 - 6 years' and you'll be around $55k
and 6 years' or more will boast you up to $70k
As always, if you're a writer, or creative director
you can expect to make $8k - $20k more a year.
The average salary across all experience levels is
only $64k. Still no dodge viper, but hey, you
wouldn't want to park it in front of your appartment
complex anyway.
4) Quality Assurance:
3 or fewer years' and you'll get paid in mountain
dew, actually around $25k a year
3 - 6 years' and you're raking in almost $30k
More than 6 years' and you'll be making around $35k
As always if you're a Q/A lead (apparently if you
can n00b the pwns) you can make $10k -
$15k more a year.
So yea, no big money here, but it just might be
worth living in mom's basement for the rest of your
life to get paid to play video games all day, ah,
the good life... I need more dew!
Now at this point, you might be asking yourself "where's all the Benjamin's at?" and if you are, go ahead and slap yourself in the face, don't worry, I'll wait.... are we good? okay. If you really want to make money in the video game industry, you're going to have to do something epic. Nobuo Uematsu (you may know him as the musical composer of most the Final Fantasy games 'including VII' as well as the Super Smash Bro's theme) has been paid millions for his creative genius. And we all know the story of the two Johns, Carmack and Romero. So in the world of video gaming, there's only one thing to be said "Go big, or go home" or maybe it should be "Go big, or no home?"
These figures are of a national average, and as the industry grows you can expect them to change. Thanks for you're time and I hope you found this informative.
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