Video Game Designers
Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed
Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
Median pay: $104,000/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +7% projected growth, 2024–2034 — faster than average.
About 9,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
• Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
• Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
• Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
• Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
• Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
• Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
• Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
What's the median pay for Video Game Designers?
The median pay for Video Game Designers is $104,000 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Video Game Designers?
Employment for Video Game Designers is projected to change +7% from 2024 to 2034 - faster than average.
What education is typically required for Video Game Designers?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Video Game Designers?
About 9,100 openings per year, on average, over the decade.