Game Development : Salary Survey

Submitted by Malus on
Forum
Industry and Education

For everyone who works in the Oz industry or for that matter NZ, Gamasutra are putting out there salary survey for 2005.

It finishes tommorrow so you'd want to complete it tonight to get your figures in.

A good way to see how your salary compares to that of your contemporaries from other countries. [?]

[url]http://inside.gamasutra.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/et450FqTtX0KIp0ECXL0EN[/url]

Submitted by LiveWire on Fri, 03/02/06 - 9:13 PMPermalink

you can win a free subscription to game developer magazine too!

Submitted by souri on Tue, 07/02/06 - 11:42 AMPermalink

We need Ambit to get another local salary survey happening [:(] The guy who made the 2004 one doesn't seem to work there anymore, my email to him bounced.

Submitted by Mick1460 on Tue, 07/02/06 - 9:15 PMPermalink

Would Yug from Australian Gamer be interested in doing one? Or would you consider doing one yourself Souri?

Submitted by souri on Wed, 08/02/06 - 4:23 PMPermalink

Yeh, it looks like something Sumea would be suited for.

Submitted by Yug on Thu, 09/02/06 - 11:07 PMPermalink

Yeah, definately something more suited to Sumea I recon ... this site has much more recognition as an the australian game 'industry' website, where as AustralianGamer.com is a bit more targeted towards a general audience. I think you would get a much better response if Souri ran with it :D

That said, I'd be happy to help out or use what resources I have to get one going :)

Submitted by souri on Fri, 10/02/06 - 11:17 PMPermalink

Yeh, I'll see if I can get something up real soon.

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Sat, 25/02/06 - 10:15 AMPermalink

Maybe I shouldn't submit my salary, may somewhat bring down the curve a little...

Submitted by souri on Tue, 04/04/06 - 9:37 AMPermalink

Here are the results of a [url="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2651&…"]recent developer salary survey[/url] by Game Developer magazine.

PROGRAMMING

Technical Director: $104,738
Lead Programmer: $81,591
Programmer / Engineer: $73, 618

ART and ANIMATION

Art Director: $65,313
Lead Artist: $68,112
Artist: $61,065

GAME DESIGN

Creative Director: $72,125
Writer: $61,000
Game Designer: $54,777

PRODUCTION

Producer: $66,375
Executive Producer (all with more than six years experience): $127, 375

QUALITY ASSURANCE

QA Lead: $43,125
Tester: $29,722

AUDIO

Audio Director: $62,206
Composer: $60,093

BUSINESS AND LEGAL

Marketing: $76,667
Admin: $81,765
Executive: $106,590

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 04/04/06 - 9:52 AMPermalink

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

Submitted by Mario on Tue, 04/04/06 - 6:35 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 04/04/06 - 7:32 PMPermalink

And a smaller industry. [:)]

Submitted by souri on Mon, 10/04/06 - 5:26 PMPermalink

I'll be putting up a Sumea Salary Survey (real soon now) based on the categories in that survey. In all categories, people will be able to choose their salary range (from $20,000 to say 120,000), and the number of years they've been in the industry. Anyone have any other suggestions?

PROGRAMMING
Technical Director:
Lead Programmer:
Programmer / Engineer:

ART and ANIMATION
Art Director:
Lead Artist:
Artist:

GAME DESIGN
Creative Director:
Writer:
Game Designer:

PRODUCTION
Producer:
Executive Producer (all with more than six years experience):

QUALITY ASSURANCE
QA Lead:
Tester:

AUDIO
Audio Director:
Composer:

BUSINESS AND LEGAL
Marketing:
Admin:
Executive:

Submitted by pb on Mon, 10/04/06 - 5:54 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Mario

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

...and then adjust again for the lower income taxes in the US... There's no doubt about it, if you want to make money but prefer to change countries rather than careers, the US is the way to go.

pb

Submitted by LiveWire on Mon, 10/04/06 - 7:07 PMPermalink

quote:Anyone have any other suggestions?
you could try interesting options like "what state do you work in?" to see how they compare, though that's probably not a good example since some states have very few companies.

Submitted by Mick1460 on Tue, 11/04/06 - 12:11 AMPermalink

Can you put Sound Designer in there under 'Audio' please Souri-dude?

Submitted by rgsymons on Tue, 11/04/06 - 3:14 AMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by pb

quote:Originally posted by Mario

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

...and then adjust again for the lower income taxes in the US... There's no doubt about it, if you want to make money but prefer to change countries rather than careers, the US is the way to go.

pb

I would debate on taxes, Australia has now got one of the lowest set of rates in the world, especially when you take healthcare into account. The US, for example, has taxes on multiple levels, federal income taxes, state income taxes, plus state taxes at the register (read GST), then there is the INS enforced "unemployment insurance", and so on....

Having lived OS extensively my experience is that it all balances out, the cost of living in total generally costs as much as people can bear in any given country. It seems that there is never too much excess cash to be had and saved regardless of your geographic location, this is simply the "free market" at work :)

Cheers,

Ross.

Submitted by nexx on Tue, 11/04/06 - 5:02 AMPermalink

I guess prop & environmental design/creation comes under art/animation?

Submitted by kalimah on Tue, 06/06/06 - 7:26 PMPermalink

can anyone give me a ball park figure for an artist with 8 years industry experience, both here and OS, specialising in animation and modelling? just returning to the aussie industry after my uk company ran out of work, and i have no clue as to what i should expect to receive or what i should be asking for. cheers! :)

Submitted by baboon on Wed, 07/06/06 - 11:54 PMPermalink

Hey man...did this ever happen?

Submitted by baboon on Wed, 07/06/06 - 11:55 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by baboon

Hey man...did this ever happen?

The salary survey for the Oz game development community I mean.

Submitted by souri on Thu, 12/10/06 - 3:04 PMPermalink

Ok, I haven't forgotten about this at all. I'll definately be making a Sumea salary survey sometime in November, roughly the same time the Sumea 2006 Awards will be prepared since they both will be running on the same vote system on Sumea.

Submitted by Malus on Thu, 02/11/06 - 7:03 PMPermalink

Looking forward to it Souri, I was meaning to ask you about this again.

Submitted by souri on Mon, 18/12/06 - 7:07 AMPermalink

It's coming real soon, I promise! Anyway, I found this article comparing the average game developer salaries of those in the US, UK, and Japan. It's quite interesting to see how much less Japanese developers are earning.

Submitted by laotan on Fri, 23/03/07 - 5:56 PMPermalink

Just wonder is the salary survey up somewhere?

Posted by Malus on
Forum
Industry and Education

For everyone who works in the Oz industry or for that matter NZ, Gamasutra are putting out there salary survey for 2005.

It finishes tommorrow so you'd want to complete it tonight to get your figures in.

A good way to see how your salary compares to that of your contemporaries from other countries. [?]

[url]http://inside.gamasutra.com/cgi-bin4/DM/y/et450FqTtX0KIp0ECXL0EN[/url]

Submitted by LiveWire on Fri, 03/02/06 - 9:13 PMPermalink

you can win a free subscription to game developer magazine too!

Submitted by souri on Tue, 07/02/06 - 11:42 AMPermalink

We need Ambit to get another local salary survey happening [:(] The guy who made the 2004 one doesn't seem to work there anymore, my email to him bounced.

Submitted by Mick1460 on Tue, 07/02/06 - 9:15 PMPermalink

Would Yug from Australian Gamer be interested in doing one? Or would you consider doing one yourself Souri?

Submitted by souri on Wed, 08/02/06 - 4:23 PMPermalink

Yeh, it looks like something Sumea would be suited for.

Submitted by Yug on Thu, 09/02/06 - 11:07 PMPermalink

Yeah, definately something more suited to Sumea I recon ... this site has much more recognition as an the australian game 'industry' website, where as AustralianGamer.com is a bit more targeted towards a general audience. I think you would get a much better response if Souri ran with it :D

That said, I'd be happy to help out or use what resources I have to get one going :)

Submitted by souri on Fri, 10/02/06 - 11:17 PMPermalink

Yeh, I'll see if I can get something up real soon.

Submitted by Jackydablunt on Sat, 25/02/06 - 10:15 AMPermalink

Maybe I shouldn't submit my salary, may somewhat bring down the curve a little...

Submitted by souri on Tue, 04/04/06 - 9:37 AMPermalink

Here are the results of a [url="http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2651&…"]recent developer salary survey[/url] by Game Developer magazine.

PROGRAMMING

Technical Director: $104,738
Lead Programmer: $81,591
Programmer / Engineer: $73, 618

ART and ANIMATION

Art Director: $65,313
Lead Artist: $68,112
Artist: $61,065

GAME DESIGN

Creative Director: $72,125
Writer: $61,000
Game Designer: $54,777

PRODUCTION

Producer: $66,375
Executive Producer (all with more than six years experience): $127, 375

QUALITY ASSURANCE

QA Lead: $43,125
Tester: $29,722

AUDIO

Audio Director: $62,206
Composer: $60,093

BUSINESS AND LEGAL

Marketing: $76,667
Admin: $81,765
Executive: $106,590

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 04/04/06 - 9:52 AMPermalink

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

Submitted by Mario on Tue, 04/04/06 - 6:35 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

Submitted by Malus on Tue, 04/04/06 - 7:32 PMPermalink

And a smaller industry. [:)]

Submitted by souri on Mon, 10/04/06 - 5:26 PMPermalink

I'll be putting up a Sumea Salary Survey (real soon now) based on the categories in that survey. In all categories, people will be able to choose their salary range (from $20,000 to say 120,000), and the number of years they've been in the industry. Anyone have any other suggestions?

PROGRAMMING
Technical Director:
Lead Programmer:
Programmer / Engineer:

ART and ANIMATION
Art Director:
Lead Artist:
Artist:

GAME DESIGN
Creative Director:
Writer:
Game Designer:

PRODUCTION
Producer:
Executive Producer (all with more than six years experience):

QUALITY ASSURANCE
QA Lead:
Tester:

AUDIO
Audio Director:
Composer:

BUSINESS AND LEGAL
Marketing:
Admin:
Executive:

Submitted by pb on Mon, 10/04/06 - 5:54 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by Mario

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

...and then adjust again for the lower income taxes in the US... There's no doubt about it, if you want to make money but prefer to change countries rather than careers, the US is the way to go.

pb

Submitted by LiveWire on Mon, 10/04/06 - 7:07 PMPermalink

quote:Anyone have any other suggestions?
you could try interesting options like "what state do you work in?" to see how they compare, though that's probably not a good example since some states have very few companies.

Submitted by Mick1460 on Tue, 11/04/06 - 12:11 AMPermalink

Can you put Sound Designer in there under 'Audio' please Souri-dude?

Submitted by rgsymons on Tue, 11/04/06 - 3:14 AMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by pb

quote:Originally posted by Mario

quote:Originally posted by Malus

Now convert from US dollars..... [:O]

And then adjust for the much lower cost of living in Australasia.

...and then adjust again for the lower income taxes in the US... There's no doubt about it, if you want to make money but prefer to change countries rather than careers, the US is the way to go.

pb

I would debate on taxes, Australia has now got one of the lowest set of rates in the world, especially when you take healthcare into account. The US, for example, has taxes on multiple levels, federal income taxes, state income taxes, plus state taxes at the register (read GST), then there is the INS enforced "unemployment insurance", and so on....

Having lived OS extensively my experience is that it all balances out, the cost of living in total generally costs as much as people can bear in any given country. It seems that there is never too much excess cash to be had and saved regardless of your geographic location, this is simply the "free market" at work :)

Cheers,

Ross.

Submitted by nexx on Tue, 11/04/06 - 5:02 AMPermalink

I guess prop & environmental design/creation comes under art/animation?

Submitted by kalimah on Tue, 06/06/06 - 7:26 PMPermalink

can anyone give me a ball park figure for an artist with 8 years industry experience, both here and OS, specialising in animation and modelling? just returning to the aussie industry after my uk company ran out of work, and i have no clue as to what i should expect to receive or what i should be asking for. cheers! :)

Submitted by baboon on Wed, 07/06/06 - 11:54 PMPermalink

Hey man...did this ever happen?

Submitted by baboon on Wed, 07/06/06 - 11:55 PMPermalink

quote:Originally posted by baboon

Hey man...did this ever happen?

The salary survey for the Oz game development community I mean.

Submitted by souri on Thu, 12/10/06 - 3:04 PMPermalink

Ok, I haven't forgotten about this at all. I'll definately be making a Sumea salary survey sometime in November, roughly the same time the Sumea 2006 Awards will be prepared since they both will be running on the same vote system on Sumea.

Submitted by Malus on Thu, 02/11/06 - 7:03 PMPermalink

Looking forward to it Souri, I was meaning to ask you about this again.

Submitted by souri on Mon, 18/12/06 - 7:07 AMPermalink

It's coming real soon, I promise! Anyway, I found this article comparing the average game developer salaries of those in the US, UK, and Japan. It's quite interesting to see how much less Japanese developers are earning.

Submitted by laotan on Fri, 23/03/07 - 5:56 PMPermalink

Just wonder is the salary survey up somewhere?