Builds the playable spaces in video games, laying out maps, missions, puzzles and encounters that guide players through the game. BLS does not publish separate figures for video game designers; it counts them within video game designer (SOC 15-1255), whose median pay is $104,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1255
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Level Designer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $104,000a year, or $50.00/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $54KTop 10% $202K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 8,300132,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025132.7K
- Projected 2035140.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 132.7K Projected 2035 140.8K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school10%
- High school15%
- Some college10%
- Associate's10%
- Bachelor's55%
Highest education held by video game designers Segment Value Less than high school 10% High school 15% Some college 10% Associate's 10% Bachelor's 55%
Also advertised as: Game Level Designer, World Designer, Mission Designer, Encounter Designer.
Pay
How much do Video Game Designers make?
Every level designer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$104,000
Middle half earn $73,290 to $158,820
- 10th
- $53,750
- 25th
- $73,290
- 75th
- $158,820
- 90th
- $201,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $53,750 |
| 25th | $73,290 |
| Median | $104,000 |
| 75th | $158,820 |
| 90th | $201,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $104,000
- Median hourly wage
- $50.00/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $117,490
- People employed
- 113,330
Versus all US occupations
At $104,000, Video Game Designers earn 104% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $53,020 a year.
Versus computer and mathematical occupations
Inside the Computer and Mathematical group, where the middle occupation pays $116,580, this is 11% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $201,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $53,750, a gap of 3.7×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 77% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $136,110, and still leads at $122,932 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Video Game Designers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1California | $136,110 | $122,932 | 27,090 |
| 2Washington | $130,480 | $121,929 | 11,580 |
| 3New York | $120,990 | $112,110 | 16,560 |
| 4Massachusetts | $113,540 | $107,359 | 2,740 |
| 5New Hampshire | $111,150 | $106,706 | 430 |
| 6District of Columbia | $107,650 | $97,952 | 480 |
| 7Rhode Island | $105,990 | $103,627 | 240 |
| 8Pennsylvania | $104,160 | $106,752 | 2,820 |
| 9Georgia | $103,810 | $107,806 | 2,800 |
| 10Texas | $102,650 | $105,763 | 5,910 |
Job outlook
Is Level Designer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Video Game Designers | +6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Video Game Designers to change 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 8,000 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 8,300 openings are projected each year, 6.3% of the 132,700 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Level Designer
Many level designers hold a degree in game design, and programs such as SMU Guildhall's Master of Interactive Technology offer a dedicated level design specialization. Others come from architecture or computer science. Employers mostly judge a portfolio of playable levels, ideally built in a commercial engine.
Common entry paths include modding existing games, making levels for map editors, game jams and indie projects, and starting in quality assurance before moving to design. Scripting knowledge, such as Unreal Blueprints or a scripting language, helps a lot, as does being able to explain design decisions clearly.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as video game designers.
- Bachelor's Degree55%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)15%
- Less than a High School Diploma10%
- Some College Courses10%
- Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree10%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 55% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 15% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 10% |
| Some College Courses | 10% |
| Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree | 10% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Level Designer do?
Level designers turn a game's mechanics into places to play. They sketch layouts, then block out levels in engines such as Unreal or Unity with simple geometry to test how a space flows. They place enemies, cover, pickups, puzzles and checkpoints, and script events that trigger as players move through.
Much of the job is iteration. Designers watch playtests, study where players get lost or bored, and adjust pacing, difficulty and sightlines until the level works. They hand blockouts to environment artists and work with them to keep gameplay clear as art is added, and they coordinate with narrative and systems designers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Sketch and block out level layouts in a game engine
- Place enemies, items, puzzles and checkpoints
- Script events and triggers that respond to player actions
- Run and observe playtests to find pacing problems
- Adjust difficulty, flow and sightlines based on feedback
- Collaborate with environment artists to keep gameplay readable
- Document level goals and design intent for the team
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Level designers work at game studio offices or remotely, mostly at a computer. Teams use daily standups, reviews and playtests. Crunch can happen near milestones and launches, though practices vary by studio. Designers spend much of their time inside the engine, testing their own levels again and again.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Active Learning3.5
- Writing3.3
- Speaking3.1
- Monitoring3.1
- Mathematics2.9
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 3.9 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Active Learning | 3.5 |
| Writing | 3.3 |
| Speaking | 3.1 |
| Monitoring | 3.1 |
| Mathematics | 2.9 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Programming4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Systems Analysis3.4
- Time Management3.4
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Coordination3.1
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Programming | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.4 |
| Time Management | 3.4 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- File versioning software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Level Designer?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code AIR) built on O*NET's Video Game Designer profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Level Designer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 5 |
| Artistic | 6 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules, combined with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data.
- Artistic6.4
- Investigative4.6
- Enterprising3.9
- Conventional3.9
- Realistic3.5
- Social2.3
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Level Designer
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
More computer and mathematical careers
Median annual pay, with video game designers highlighted
- Software Developer$135,980
- Actuary$130,000
- Data Scientist$120,230
- Business Intelligence Analyst$120,230
- Database Administrator$104,620
- Web Designer$104,000
- Level Designer$104,000
- Computer Programmer$100,390
- Web Developer$92,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Software Developer | $135,980 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Data Scientist | $120,230 |
| Business Intelligence Analyst | $120,230 |
| Database Administrator | $104,620 |
| Web Designer | $104,000 |
| Level Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Level Designer appears on
Questions
Level Designer: frequently asked questions
How much do Video Game Designers make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for video game designers. It counts them within video game designer, whose median pay is $104,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $73,290 and $158,820, and the top 10% earn $201,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Level Designer?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Video Game Designers, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 55.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Level Designer a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 8,300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Level Designer do?
Level designers turn a game's mechanics into places to play. A typical task: sketch and block out level layouts in a game engine. Employers most often ask for Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software, Development environment software.
Which states pay Video Game Designers the most?
The highest state medians for Video Game Designers are California ($136,110), Washington ($130,480), New York ($120,990) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Level Designer?
O*NET scores Video Game Designers highest on the Artistic, Investigative and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules with investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with INTP personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.