How much does a Game Programmer make?

Updated Aug 11, 2023

Experience

Industry

$115,165 / yrTotal Pay
$99,356 / yrBase Pay
$15,810 / yrAdditional Pay

$115,165

 / yr
$71K$190K
Most Likely Range
Possible Range

The estimated total pay for a Game Programmer is $115,165 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $99,356 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $15,810 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

How accurate does $115,165 look to you?

Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Top Paying Companies

For a Game Programmer in United States

Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Game Programmer in United States. Employers include Ubisoft, THQ Nordic and Naughty Dog.

1
Ubisoft
Ubisoft
$143,620/yr
372 open jobs
2
THQ Nordic
$109,618/yr
3
Naughty Dog
$107,329/yr
4
$101,647/yr
See pay for all companies for a Game Programmer in United StatesView data as table

Top Paying Companies

For Game Programmer in United States

1Ubisoft$143,620
2THQ Nordic$109,618
3Naughty Dog$107,329
4Papaya Studio$101,647

What are total pay estimates for a Game Programmer at different companies?

or
Sort:
Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
Naughty Dog
4.2
Game ProgrammerSee 19 salaries from all locations

$107,329

 / yr
Papaya Studio
1.9
Game ProgrammerSee 7 salaries from all locations

$101,647

 / yr
THQ Nordic
3.4
Game ProgrammerSee 7 salaries from all locations

$109,618

 / yr
Ubisoft
3.8
Game ProgrammerSee 5 salaries from all locations

$143,620

 / yr
Petroglyph Games
3.4
Game ProgrammerSee 4 salaries from all locations

$131,289

 / yr
Schell Games
4
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$111,144

 / yr
Epic Games
4.4
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$67

 / hr

Is this salary info helpful?

Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere

Share Salary Anonymously
Heavy Iron Studios
4.5
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$96,259

 / yr
Age of Learning
3
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$35

 / hr
1st Playable Productions
2.9
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$90,864

 / yr
WildWorks
2.9
Game ProgrammerSee 3 salaries from all locations

$109,896

 / yr
Fathom 7 Digital Studios
1.6
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$41

 / hr
Multimedia Games
3
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$96,129

 / yr
Activision Blizzard
3.9
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$125,712

 / yr
Google
4.4
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$192,093

 / yr
WayForward Technologies
3.6
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$95,365

 / yr
Kennesaw State University
4
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$28

 / hr
Idol Minds
3.7
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$103,902

 / yr
Arkadium
4
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$92,038

 / yr
Rainbow Studios
4
Game ProgrammerSee 2 salaries from all locations

$89,838

 / yr
Download as data table

Game Programmer Salaries

Job TitleSalary
Naughty Dog Game Programmer salaries - 19 salaries reported$107,329/yr
Papaya Studio Game Programmer salaries - 7 salaries reported$101,647/yr
THQ Nordic Game Programmer salaries - 7 salaries reported$109,618/yr
Ubisoft Game Programmer salaries - 5 salaries reported$143,620/yr
Petroglyph Games Game Programmer salaries - 4 salaries reported$131,289/yr
Schell Games Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$111,144/yr
Epic Games Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$67/hr
Heavy Iron Studios Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$96,259/yr
Age of Learning Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$35/hr
1st Playable Productions Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$90,864/yr
WildWorks Game Programmer salaries - 3 salaries reported$109,896/yr
Fathom 7 Digital Studios Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$41/hr
Multimedia Games Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$96,129/yr
Activision Blizzard Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$125,712/yr
Google Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$192,093/yr
WayForward Technologies Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$95,365/yr
Kennesaw State University Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$28/hr
Idol Minds Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$103,902/yr
Arkadium Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$92,038/yr
Rainbow Studios Game Programmer salaries - 2 salaries reported$89,838/yr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 160

Top Paying Industries

For a Game Programmer in United States

The top 2 paying industries for a Game Programmer in United States are Media & Communication with a median total pay of $125,475 and Information Technology with a median total pay of $105,633.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Media & CommunicationMedia & Communication$125,475

    13% Higher than other industries

  • Information TechnologyInformation Technology$105,633

    3% Lower than other industries

Media & Communication

Top paying companies in Media & Communication for Game Programmer are Ubisoft and Naughty Dog.

UbisoftUbisoft$143,620/yr
Naughty DogNaughty Dog$107,329/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

What is the pay outlook for Engineering?

Engineering jobs are in high demand with workers receiving generous compensation packages and bonuses. Engineering offers ample opportunity for growth and development with transferable skills across an array of fields from software, supply chain and logistics to aerospace. Most roles require at least a bachelor’s degree. To remain competitive, job-seekers should consider specialization or skill-specific programs such as coding boot-camps or certifications.

Recent Salaries Shared

For game programmer

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Game Developer

United States of America

 | 15+ years

$111,000

/yr

$100K | $11K

Submitted Yesterday

15+ years
Yesterday
Game Engineer

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$60,000

/yr

$58K | $2K

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Unity, Developer

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$55,000

/yr

Submitted Yesterday

1-3 years
Yesterday
Gameplay Programmer

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$85,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago
Game Developer

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$108,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago
Gameplay Programmer

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$178,000

/yr

$128K | $50K

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago
C#/Unity Developer

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$9,000

/mo

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago
C#/Unity Developer

United States of America

 | 4-6 years

$90,000

/yr

Submitted 2 days ago

4-6 years
2 days ago
Game Presentation Coordinator

United States of America

 | 1-3 years

$18

/hr

Submitted 2 days ago

1-3 years
2 days ago

Game Programmer pay FAQ

The average salary for a Game Programmer is $115,165 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 213 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Game Programmer employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Game Programmer in United States is $150,059 per year.

The lowest salary for a Game Programmer in United States is $89,023 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Game Programmer or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Game Programmer.

Salaries

 > 

game programmer