Game Designers Earn More In UK Than In US

Mark Graham writes "A number of surveys have recently put out details on the wages games developers earn in various parts of the world. Surveys by Develop in Europe and Game Developer in the US were among these. A report now compares the salary levels of various roles in the US and Europe. Turns out that game designers and producers do better in the UK, while artists and QA/testing wages are relatively the same on both sides of the Atlantic — and QA specifically is the worst paid; the lowest salaries being around £12,000/$25,000 — ouch! Luckily, I'm a programmer, but looks like I need to move country: we have the best paid roles in games development, but programmers are better off in America."

In Useful Dollars

[MBCook]

That's cute and all, but what is that in pocket money? When you take out taxes, health care, rent, gas, water, electricity, phone, internet, etc... how much is left? Is there still an advantage in the UK? Does the advantage switch to the US? Are they about the same then?

Now you'll have to go based on average. Things are more expensive in NYC, Seattle, San Francisco, London, etc. than in smaller places like Dallas, Kansas City, Omaha, etc.

Speaking of which, how does the average salary of the place most of these jobs are located in effect this? Are the UK numbers higher because most video game jobs are located in extremely expensive areas?

Re:In Useful Dollars

[MBCook]

That's a good question. I've wondered that too. I don't think there are any game studios near me. I'm pretty sure I'd have to go at least 75 miles to get to one with more than 2 or 3 employees.

I can think of three reasons.

1. Big companies - Microsoft hires tons of people. Many eventually leave. That leaves a large pool of talent in the Seattle area
2. Industry - This ties in with #1. Nintendo had lots of video game programmers, so not only are there programmers up in Washington, there are game programmers
3. Finance - There are many more banks and VCs and such in a town like Seattle, San Fran, or any other large city than in smaller places like Jackson Hole, Wyoming. That makes it easier to expand your company past 3 people.

Number 2 is probably the biggest reasons. If you want to act, you go to NYC or Hollywood. If you want to be in fashion you go to Paris, Milan, or NYC. If you want to be in games you can go to Seattle, San Fran, or Dallas (they seem to have quite a few, iD among others). Once people start following that advice, it just becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Re:In Useful Dollars

[snl2587]

Because they're "the suits" and can afford it.

Re:In Useful Dollars

[Swampash]

In related news, people in other places earn different salaries, have different living costs - and this is the real jawdropper - different-colored money than people in America.

Whoa.

Re:In Useful Dollars

[iminplaya]

Is there still an advantage in the UK?

Well, yeah...If you need a triple bypass there sure is.

Re:News Flash! Weak dollar = low comparitiv salari

[Lost Engineer]

Very true, you win the "basic understanding of economics" prize, which seems to have eluded the submitter.

The worst situation is for those who work in the UK but get paid in dollars (usually Americans.)

Wrong industry

[teh moges]

If you are looking for money, you don't look at making games.

That market consistently pays lower then equivilent skilled programmers in other areas. You make games for passion, not for money. In that case, whether you make more or less money then another country is really not relevant.

Re:In Useful Dollars

[LithiumX]

The lack of game development in Houston is one reason why I've never even tried for a game dev job. There is a glut of development job posting around here, but it's virtually all business logic, web design, and medical. Nothing stimulating - just work for (hopefully) decent pay.

I'm sniffing around at the developer job market lately, but it's hard to get an actual idea of what is a good figure to ask for in terms of salary. My current salary is laughable (especially considering 8 years of heavy and varied experience), but I also work at an ISP/Datacenter (an industry that never pays well).

The hardest part of making the leap to actually start pursuing jobs is... what kind of salary should I ask for? Historically, I've asked for amounts so low that it's ended up a ripoff, but I have absolutely no reliable idea of what people make - especially .Net programmers (who can switch to Perl, PHP, ASP, VB, C++, x86 Assembly - and can admin a unix or windows box to boot). I don't trust headhunters, and the job sites I look at give wildly varying "standards". Most job postings don't even suggest a figure.

Any suggestions on how to identify a reasonable price tag to put on myself?

Re:In Useful Dollars

[fatgraham]

"Any suggestions on how to identify a reasonable price tag to put on myself?"

Make the prospective employer offer YOU a salary. You are filling THEIR need, find out what it's worth to this company to have that need filled.

On the other hand, if the job is filling YOUR need (money for the bills) then work out how much you need to be paid to cover this