Video Game Designers Career, Salary and Skills
Video Game Designers have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $104,000 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 113,330. Wage data is published for 202 locations.
Occupation description
Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
O*NET code
15-1255.01
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$104,000
Hourly median
$50.00
Employment
113,330
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Programming | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.38 | 3.25 |
| Time Management | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Writing | 3.25 | 3.88 |
Typical tasks
- Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
- Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
- Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
- Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
Technology
- 3D graphic design software
- Adobe ActionScript
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Advanced business application programming ABAP
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk 3ds Max
- Autodesk Maya
- Autodesk Scaleform
- Balsamiq Studios Balsamiq Mockups
- Blackboard software
- C
Video Game Designers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Video Game Designers Salary in CAMedian $136,110 · Employment 27,090
- Video Game Designers Salary in NYMedian $120,990 · Employment 16,560
- Video Game Designers Salary in New York, NYMedian $119,190 · Employment 14,990
- Video Game Designers Salary in WAMedian $130,480 · Employment 11,580
- Video Game Designers Salary in Seattle, WAMedian $133,760 · Employment 10,330
- Video Game Designers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $106,550 · Employment 9,220
- Video Game Designers Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $163,810 · Employment 6,630
- Video Game Designers Salary in TXMedian $102,650 · Employment 5,910
- Video Game Designers Salary in FLMedian $77,730 · Employment 4,620
- Video Game Designers Salary in San Jose, CAMedian $201,260 · Employment 4,400
- Video Game Designers Salary in TNMedian $63,510 · Employment 3,610
- Video Game Designers Salary in NCMedian $97,990 · Employment 3,400
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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.