Best states for a game artist

Q: What is the best state for game artists?

The best state to be a game artist is Rhode Island based on game artist salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for game artists?

The highest paying state for game artists is South Carolina based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for game artists?

The worst state for game artists is South Carolina, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Alison Petty Ragguette

Rank 1 - 10
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It seems like game artists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for game artists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for game artist jobs.

The median salary for game artists in Rhode Island is $125,560. Compare that to the median salary in South Carolina of $43,838, which ranked worst for game artists, and you can see how your location is important for your career.Rhode Island is the best state, and Carson City is the city with the highest pay for game artists.

10 best states for game artists in 2026

1. Rhode Island
Total game artist jobs: 23
Average annual salary: $125,560
Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000
Location Quotient:
1.49
Game artist jobs in Rhode Island
2. New Hampshire
Total game artist jobs: 48
Average annual salary: $123,572
Lowest 10 percent earn: $79,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $191,000
Location Quotient:
2.17
Game artist jobs in New Hampshire
3. Connecticut
Total game artist jobs: 53
Average annual salary: $125,036
Lowest 10 percent earn: $80,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $194,000
Location Quotient:
1.26
Game artist jobs in Connecticut
4. California
Total game artist jobs: 746
Average annual salary: $105,501
Lowest 10 percent earn: $65,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000
Location Quotient:
2.02
Game artist jobs in California
5. Washington
Total game artist jobs: 151
Average annual salary: $92,106
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000
Location Quotient:
1.63
Game artist jobs in Washington
6. Delaware
Total game artist jobs: 15
Average annual salary: $120,234
Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $190,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Game artist jobs in Delaware
7. Maryland
Total game artist jobs: 88
Average annual salary: $101,738
Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $164,000
Location Quotient:
1.1
Game artist jobs in Maryland
8. Nevada
Total game artist jobs: 19
Average annual salary: $139,300
Lowest 10 percent earn: $89,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $216,000
Location Quotient:
0.72
Game artist jobs in Nevada
9. Maine
Total game artist jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $87,804
Lowest 10 percent earn: $55,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000
Location Quotient:
1.01
Game artist jobs in Maine
10. Idaho
Total game artist jobs: 18
Average annual salary: $92,278
Lowest 10 percent earn: $56,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $149,000
Location Quotient:
0.87
Game artist jobs in Idaho

Game artist jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a game artist

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a game artist

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Rhode Island	$125,560	$80,000	1,059,639	23
2	New Hampshire	$123,572	$79,000	1,342,795	48
3	Connecticut	$125,036	$80,000	3,588,184	53
4	California	$105,501	$65,000	39,536,653	746
5	Washington	$92,106	$56,000	7,405,743	151
6	Delaware	$120,234	$76,000	961,939	15
7	Maryland	$101,738	$62,000	6,052,177	88
8	Nevada	$139,300	$89,000	2,998,039	19
9	Maine	$87,804	$55,000	1,335,907	17
10	Idaho	$92,278	$56,000	1,716,943	18
11	New York	$90,130	$56,000	19,849,399	202
12	District of Columbia	$116,378	$72,000	693,972	16
13	Oregon	$85,979	$53,000	4,142,776	55
14	Michigan	$82,133	$50,000	9,962,311	90
15	North Carolina	$83,791	$50,000	10,273,419	103
16	New Mexico	$85,001	$52,000	2,088,070	21
17	Iowa	$78,085	$48,000	3,145,711	46
18	Massachusetts	$78,316	$49,000	6,859,819	118
19	Utah	$72,608	$44,000	3,101,833	58
20	Vermont	$75,209	$47,000	623,657	10
21	Illinois	$85,251	$52,000	12,802,023	91
22	Kentucky	$70,930	$42,000	4,454,189	51
23	West Virginia	$78,090	$47,000	1,815,857	13
24	Wisconsin	$68,672	$42,000	5,795,483	98
25	North Dakota	$77,010	$49,000	755,393	8
26	Kansas	$75,208	$46,000	2,913,123	28
27	Wyoming	$59,063	$37,000	579,315	18
28	Indiana	$75,530	$45,000	6,666,818	55
29	Arkansas	$70,374	$42,000	3,004,279	27
30	Arizona	$74,797	$46,000	7,016,270	53
31	Colorado	$75,074	$46,000	5,607,154	54
32	New Jersey	$77,622	$48,000	9,005,644	40
33	Tennessee	$70,096	$42,000	6,715,984	53
34	Texas	$57,268	$34,000	28,304,596	259
35	Virginia	$62,278	$38,000	8,470,020	105
36	Alaska	$64,580	$41,000	739,795	8
37	Oklahoma	$58,607	$35,000	3,930,864	31
38	Pennsylvania	$67,895	$42,000	12,805,537	84
39	Florida	$61,316	$36,000	20,984,400	142
40	Georgia	$54,381	$32,000	10,429,379	132
41	Nebraska	$52,554	$32,000	1,920,076	27
42	Hawaii	$49,789	$35,000	1,427,538	11
43	Alabama	$53,039	$31,000	4,874,747	44
44	Mississippi	$52,525	$31,000	2,984,100	21
45	Minnesota	$57,636	$36,000	5,576,606	53
46	South Dakota	$46,682	$29,000	869,666	13
47	Montana	$53,145	$32,000	1,050,493	11
48	Louisiana	$46,142	$27,000	4,684,333	37
49	Ohio	$49,810	$30,000	11,658,609	79
50	Missouri	$51,442	$31,000	6,113,532	35
51	South Carolina	$43,838	$26,000	5,024,369	39

Highest paying states for game artists

Rank	State	Avg. Game Artist Salary
1	Rhode Island	$125,560
2	New Hampshire	$123,572
3	Connecticut	$125,036
4	California	$105,501
5	Washington	$92,106
6	Delaware	$120,234
7	Maryland	$101,738
8	Nevada	$139,300
9	Maine	$87,804
10	Idaho	$92,278
11	New York	$90,130
12	District of Columbia	$116,378
13	Oregon	$85,979
14	Michigan	$82,133
15	North Carolina	$83,791
16	New Mexico	$85,001
17	Iowa	$78,085
18	Massachusetts	$78,316
19	Utah	$72,608
20	Vermont	$75,209
21	Illinois	$85,251
22	Kentucky	$70,930
23	West Virginia	$78,090
24	Wisconsin	$68,672
25	North Dakota	$77,010
26	Kansas	$75,208
27	Wyoming	$59,063
28	Indiana	$75,530
29	Arkansas	$70,374
30	Arizona	$74,797
31	Colorado	$75,074
32	New Jersey	$77,622
33	Tennessee	$70,096
34	Texas	$57,268
35	Virginia	$62,278
36	Alaska	$64,580
37	Oklahoma	$58,607
38	Pennsylvania	$67,895
39	Florida	$61,316
40	Georgia	$54,381
41	Nebraska	$52,554
42	Hawaii	$49,789
43	Alabama	$53,039
44	Mississippi	$52,525
45	Minnesota	$57,636
46	South Dakota	$46,682
47	Montana	$53,145
48	Louisiana	$46,142
49	Ohio	$49,810
50	Missouri	$51,442
51	South Carolina	$43,838

Expert opinions on the best states for game artists

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for game artists to find work opportunities?
Alison Petty Ragguette
Professor of Art & Graduate Coordinator, CSUSB
Most teaching opportunities are online at the moment. Our alums who graduate did gain some online teaching skills, so I would say they have an advantage.

Game artist best states FAQs

What is the best state for game artists?

What is the highest paying state for game artists?

What is the worst state for game artists?

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Best states for Game Artists

Updated January 8, 2025

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Total game artist jobs:	23
Average annual salary:	$125,560
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$80,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$194,000
Location Quotient:	1.49

Best states for a game artist

10 best states for game artists in 2026

1. Rhode Island

2. New Hampshire

3. Connecticut

4. California

5. Washington

6. Delaware

7. Maryland

8. Nevada

9. Maine

10. Idaho