How much do indie game developers make?

The average annual pay for an indie game developer in the United States is $115,155 a year, which works out to be approximately $55.36 an hour, with the majority of game developer salaries ranging between $89,000 (25th percentile) to $148,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $171,500 annually across the United States. This figure can vary widely depending on factors such as the game’s success, the developer’s level of experience, and the size of the game development team.

FAQs about Indie Game Developers’ Salaries

General Information

1. What is the average income of a game dev?: As of Oct 27, 2023, the average annual pay for a Game Developer in the United States is $115,155 a year, which is equivalent to $2,214/week or $9,596/month.
2. Who is the richest indie game developer?: The richest indie game developer is Notch, the founder of Mojang, who sold Minecraft to Microsoft for a $2.5 billion cash deal.
3. Can an indie game make millions?: Yes, some indie games can make millions, but according to VG Insights, only the top 5% of indie games released each year make over $500,000 each, and the average game only makes $13,000.

Career and Financial Aspects

4. Is game developer a viable career?: Working in the gaming industry can be one of the lucrative career options in 2023, with game developers being in high demand all over the world.
5. What is the highest paying job in game development?: The highest paying jobs in game development include Senior Game Developer, Gameplay Engineer, and Gameplay Programmer, with salaries ranging from $100,000 to over $200,000 per year.
6. Do indie game developers pay taxes?: Yes, indie game developers face various income tax and small business formation issues, including not being geographically bound, relying on alternative funding, and having multiple options for tax deductions.

Game Development and Publishing

7. How much does it cost to make a good indie game?: The cost of making an indie game can range from $10,000 to $1 million, depending on factors such as the game’s complexity, team size, and development time.
8. How much do publishers take from indie games?: The size of the royalty that publishers take from indie games is typically between 10% and 20% of the game’s revenue, after the publisher has recaptured the costs.
9. Can I sell my indie game?: Yes, you can sell your indie game through various channels, including app stores, online marketplaces, and your own website.

Industry and Market Trends

10. Is there a shortage of video game developers?: Yes, there is a constant shortage of talent in the gaming industry, with gaming job postings growing by about 40% over the past three years.
11. What are the odds of making a successful indie game?: The odds of making a successful indie game are low, with only the top 1% of indie games making over $7 million and the bottom 50% never surpassing $4,000.
12. How long do most indie games take to develop?: The development time for indie games can vary widely, but on average, it takes anywhere from six months to three years to develop an indie game.

Career Advice and Opportunities

13. Is game design a viable career?: Yes, game design can be an exciting and rewarding career for those interested in creating video games for the public.
14. Who gets paid more, game designer or game developer?: According to Payscale, the average base salary of a game designer in the U.S. is $67,317, whereas the salary of a game developer is $69,343.
15. How do indie game developers make a living?: Indie game developers can make a living by selling their games, offering freelance services to other developers, and creating passion projects that can become successful or develop smaller cult followings.