Conceives and designs the gameplay mechanics, narrative systems, environments, and characters of video games. Collaborates with programmers, artists, and audio engineers using tools like Unity and Unreal Engine.
Pay
$60,000
Lower reported wage
$99,800
Median
$174,630
Upper reported wage
Annual U.S. salaries. Actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience. The lower and upper figures do not represent starting and senior salaries.
AI-generated image · Illustrative scene
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About this data
No separate Video Game Designer SOC. Subsumed in 27-1014 Special Effects Artists and Animators (median $99,800). BLS projects a -0.3% decline for that occupation.
SOC 27-1014BLS EP 2025-35Verified 2026-04-28View on BLS
Illustration: AI-generated image · Illustrative scene
