Overview

The in-depth 'Game Developer Salary Report: 2004-2007', which supplements the 2006 Salary Survey included in the April 2007 issue of Game Developer magazine, includes a full salary, benefits, and bonuses comparison for American, Canadian, and European game industry salaries over that time period. An overview of the basic findings is available in a Gamasutra.com news story

The 2006 survey was conducted through Audience Insights, and anonymously polled 5,600 readers of Game Developer magazine and Gamasutra.com and attendees of Game Developers Conference on their current salary information. The 2005 and 2004 surveys were conducted similarly, leading to almost 15,000 responses and unprecedented levels of detail.

These trends include three-year averages, leading to prediction possibilities over all disciplines, including programming, art, audio, production, Q/A, business, and beyond. This makes it an essential purchase for HR professionals, business owners, investors and government entities wanting to know how game salaries are changing over time.

Unique Information

In addition to the never-before compiled graphs and trend information for video game salaries, there's a great deal of exclusive statistical information also included in the report for the first time. These specifics include salary information on a state-by-state U.S. basis (average programmer salary in California, for example), and a full run-down of the ways that staff by discpline were recruited (word of mouth, recruiters, etc). There is also further segmenting of the data to show average salaries for select Canadian provinces and European countries, as well as many other newly exposed details.

Table Of Contents

The full table of contents for 'Game Developer Salary Report: 2004-2007' is as follows:

1. Introduction 2

2. Methodology 3

3. Game Developer Salary Report 2004 – 2007 5

3.1. Programming
3.1.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 5
3.1.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 7
3.1.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 8
3.1.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 9

3.2. Art and Animation
3.2.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 10
3.2.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 12
3.2.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 13
3.2.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 14

3.3. Game Design
3.3.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 15
3.3.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 17
3.3.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 18
3.3.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 19

3.4. Production
3.4.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 20
3.4.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 22
3.4.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 22
3.4.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 24

3.5. Quality Assurance
3.5.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 25
3.5.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 27
3.5.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 27
3.5.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 29

3.6. Audio
3.6.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 30
3.6.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 32
3.6.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 32
3.6.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 34

3.7. Business and Legal
3.7.1. Salary and Experience Comparisons 2004 – 2006 35
3.7.2. Discipline Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 37
3.7.3. Additional Compensation and Benefit Comparisons 2004 – 2006 38
3.7.4. Salary by Year by Region Comparisons 2004 – 2006 39

3.8.Overall
3.8.1. Gender Comparisons 2004 – 2006 40
3.8.2. Education and Salary Comparisons 2006 41

3.9. Additional Data

3.9.1. U.S. Regional Data
3.9.1.1. Respondents by U.S. State 2006 42
3.9.1.2. Top Ten U.S. States by Overall Salary 2004 – 2006 43
3.9.1.3. Overall Top Five U.S. States by Salary 2004 – 2006 44
3.9.1.4. Top Five U.S. States by Salary by Discipline 2004 – 2006 45
3.9.1.5. U.S. Regions by Salary Comparisons 2004 – 2005 46
3.9.1.6. U.S. Homeowner Comparisons 2005 – 2005 47
3.9.1.7. U.S. Age Comparisons 2006 49
3.9.1.8. U.S. Method of Gaining Employment Comparisons 2006 50

3.9.2. Canadian Regional Data
3.9.2.1. Canadian Salary by Discipline Comparisons 2005 – 2006 51
3.9.2.2. Canadian Programmer and Visual Arts Comparisons 2005 – 2006 52
3.9.2.3. Canadian Game Design and Q/A Comparisons 2005 – 2006 53
3.9.2.4. Canadian Audio and Production Comparisons 2005 – 2006 54
3.9.2.5. Canadian Business and Legal Comparisons 2005 – 2006 55
3.9.2.6. Canadian Respondents by Province 2006 56
3.9.2.7. Top Five Canadian Provinces by Salary and Discipline 2006 56
3.9.2.8. Canadian Age Comparisons 2006 57
3.9.2.9. Canadian Method of Employment Comparisons 2006 58

3.9.3. European Regional Data
3.9.3.1. European Salary by Discipline Comparisons 2005 – 2006 59
3.9.3.2. European Programmer and Visual Arts Comparisons 2005 – 2006 60
3.9.3.3. European Game Design and Q/A Comparisons 2005 – 2006 61
3.9.3.4. European Audio and Production Comparisons 2005 – 2006 62
3.9.3.5. European Business and Legal Comparisons 2005 – 2006 63
3.9.3.6. European Respondents by Country 2005 – 2006 64
3.9.3.7. Top Five European Countries by Salary and Discipline 2005 – 2006 65
3.9.3.8. European Age Comparisons 2006 66
3.9.3.9. European Method of Employment Comparisons 2006 67

4. Conclusion - 2007 and Beyond? 68

5. Appendix (individual “Salary Surveys” 2004 though 2006) 69

Availability

The 'Game Developer Salary Report: 2004-2007' report is now available for paid digital download for a price of US $2,995. Any questions about payment, delivery methods, or further licensing of the data can be directed to Game Developer Research at research@gdmag.com.

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