Video Game Designers Salary by State
The national median pay for video game designers is $104,000 a year. By state, it ranges from $48,550 in Mississippi to $136,110 in California. These figures are for the broader BLS group “Web and Digital Interface Designers”.
Updated October 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
U.S. pay range
- Lowest 10%
- $53,750
- 25th percentile
- $73,290
- Median
- $104,000
- 75th percentile
- $158,820
- Top 10%
- $201,550
Annual pay, all U.S. workers in this job (broader BLS group “Web and Digital Interface Designers”). About 113,330 jobs.
Median pay in 45 states and DC
| # | State | Median | vs. U.S. | Lowest 10% | Top 10% | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $136,110 | +31% | $68,090 | $219,750 | 27,090 |
| 2 | Washington | $130,480 | +25% | $60,580 | $217,290 | 11,580 |
| 3 | New York | $120,990 | +16% | $63,960 | $204,510 | 16,560 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $113,540 | +9% | $71,110 | $178,050 | 2,740 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $111,150 | +7% | $51,550 | $162,960 | 430 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $107,650 | +4% | $78,120 | $172,130 | 480 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $105,990 | +2% | $65,640 | $166,320 | 240 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | $104,160 | 0% | $54,450 | $155,200 | 2,820 |
| 9 | Georgia | $103,810 | 0% | $54,910 | $172,950 | 2,800 |
| 10 | Texas | $102,650 | −1% | $59,290 | $168,620 | 5,910 |
| 11 | Oregon | $102,220 | −2% | $65,260 | $180,580 | 1,230 |
| 12 | Utah | $99,990 | −4% | $57,890 | $159,710 | 1,060 |
| 13 | Arizona | $98,070 | −6% | $53,260 | $183,000 | 810 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $97,990 | −6% | $44,530 | $163,850 | 3,400 |
| 15 | Maryland | $96,760 | −7% | $52,930 | $164,460 | 1,310 |
| 16 | Colorado | $95,880 | −8% | $60,620 | $169,050 | 3,250 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $95,340 | −8% | $57,980 | $138,410 | 880 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $95,310 | −8% | $50,340 | $173,470 | 2,170 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $94,660 | −9% | $53,240 | $131,470 | 1,060 |
| 20 | Delaware | $93,880 | −10% | $50,880 | $136,490 | 130 |
| 21 | Illinois | $85,710 | −18% | $58,090 | $157,670 | 2,050 |
| 22 | Ohio | $83,360 | −20% | $48,940 | $151,090 | 2,520 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $82,650 | −21% | $47,190 | $133,710 | 1,520 |
| 24 | Michigan | $81,010 | −22% | $42,660 | $140,830 | 1,750 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $80,930 | −22% | $43,720 | $162,880 | 800 |
| 26 | Nevada | $80,120 | −23% | $52,000 | $130,260 | 1,180 |
| 27 | Florida | $77,730 | −25% | $49,710 | $142,910 | 4,620 |
| 28 | Virginia | $77,140 | −26% | $42,080 | $140,490 | 1,990 |
| 29 | Montana | $77,030 | −26% | $47,670 | $138,520 | 100 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $77,000 | −26% | $52,750 | $121,520 | 590 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $76,440 | −26% | $37,730 | $120,960 | 340 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $71,880 | −31% | $30,800 | $271,340 | 200 |
| 33 | Alaska | $71,300 | −31% | $50,800 | $114,150 | 30 |
| 34 | Missouri | $70,970 | −32% | $43,680 | $132,550 | 1,210 |
| 35 | Kansas | $70,620 | −32% | $44,520 | $114,190 | 200 |
| 36 | Iowa | $69,060 | −34% | $42,140 | $108,160 | 670 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $68,790 | −34% | $38,090 | $101,280 | 170 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $67,020 | −36% | $44,740 | $103,590 | 110 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $65,520 | −37% | $46,990 | $100,590 | 720 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $64,260 | −38% | $50,940 | $89,440 | 40 |
| 41 | Idaho | $64,250 | −38% | $45,240 | $129,620 | 340 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $63,510 | −39% | $45,510 | $83,220 | 3,610 |
| 43 | Indiana | $63,430 | −39% | $37,960 | $114,390 | 1,160 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $53,300 | −49% | $32,660 | $123,910 | 200 |
| 45 | Alabama | $51,860 | −50% | $44,190 | $127,500 | 130 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $48,550 | −53% | $41,180 | $96,190 | 230 |
BLS OEWS May 2025 state estimates for the broader group “Web and Digital Interface Designers”. States without published data are not listed. “Not published”: BLS withheld the value or it is above the highest amount BLS publishes. Pay is not adjusted for living costs.
Video Game Designers salary questions
Which state pays video game designers the most?
California, with a median of $136,110 a year (+31% vs. the national median of $104,000). BLS May 2025.
Which state pays video game designers the least?
Mississippi, with a median of $48,550 a year (−53% vs. national).
Where do most video game designers work?
California has the most jobs, about 27,090, with a median of $136,110.
Does a higher salary mean more money left over?
Not always. These are pay figures only. Living costs, taxes and housing differ a lot between states, and this page does not adjust for them.