Video Game Designers earn a median of $104,000 per year ($50.00/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 6.0% through 2035, with about 8,300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 15-1255
- Computer and Mathematical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Video Game 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: Design Director, Designer, Environmental Artist, Game Design Consultant, Game Designer, Gamemaster.
Pay
How much do Video Game Designers make?
Every video game 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 Video Game 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.
Overall employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
However, improving web development tools and increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) for web development may soften the employment growth of these workers. These tools may make these workers more productive, and it may also allow some workers in other occupations to do basic web development tasks.
Getting in
How to become a Video Game Designer
Educational requirements vary for web developers and digital designers, based on work setting and other factors.
- 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 Video Game Designer do?
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.
Web developers create and maintain websites. They are also responsible for the site’s technical aspects, such as its performance and capacity, which are measures of a website’s speed and how much traffic the site can handle. In addition, web developers may create content for the site. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability. They are responsible for the look and functionality of the website or interface.
Day-to-day tasks
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
- 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.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most web developers and digital designers work full time.
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
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. 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.
Where video game designers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Information27%
- Self-employed workers13%
- Computer systems design and related services13%
- Finance and insurance6%
- Wholesale trade5%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Information | 27% |
| Self-employed workers | 13% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 13% |
| Finance and insurance | 6% |
| Wholesale trade | 5% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
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 Video Game Designer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Video Game Designer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 4 |
| 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
- Investigative4.2
- Enterprising3.9
- Conventional3.9
- Realistic2.8
- 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 Video Game Designer
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
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
- Video Game 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 |
| Video Game Designer | $104,000 |
| Computer Programmer | $100,390 |
| Web Developer | $92,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within video game designer
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Video Game Designer appears on
Questions
Video Game Designer: frequently asked questions
How much do Video Game Designers make?
Video Game Designers earn a median of $104,000 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 104% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $50.00/hr. The middle half earn between $73,290 and $158,820. The top 10% earn $201,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Video Game 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 Video Game 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 Video Game Designer do?
Web developers create and maintain websites. A core O*NET task: balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product. 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 Video Game 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 the closest types are INTP, INFP, ENTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.