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Job outlook for game artists in the United States
Are game artist jobs in demand?
Game artist job and salary trends over time
Game artist jobs over time
Game artist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2,148 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 2,782 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,085 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,003 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,140 | 0.00% |
Average game artist salary over time
Game artist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,932 | $41.79 | +3.2% |
| 2024 | $84,213 | $40.49 | +3.8% |
| 2023 | $81,136 | $39.01 | +2.8% |
| 2022 | $78,910 | $37.94 | +8.0% |
| 2021 | $73,059 | $35.12 | +2.1% |
Game artist jobs by state
Most common states for game artists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 48 | 4% |
| 2 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 18 | 3% |
| 3 | California | 39,536,653 | 746 | 2% |
| 4 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 151 | 2% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 118 | 2% |
| 6 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 98 | 2% |
| 7 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 58 | 2% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 23 | 2% |
| 9 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 16 | 2% |
| 10 | Delaware | 961,939 | 15 | 2% |
| 11 | Vermont | 623,657 | 10 | 2% |
| 12 | New York | 19,849,399 | 202 | 1% |
| 13 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 103 | 1% |
| 14 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 90 | 1% |
| 15 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 88 | 1% |
| 16 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 55 | 1% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 53 | 1% |
| 18 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 19 | 1% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 18 | 1% |
| 20 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 17 | 1% |
Most common cities for game artists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh | 2 | 1% | $63,704 |
| 2 | Winston-Salem | 2 | 1% | $84,289 |
| 3 | Bellevue | 1 | 1% | $92,702 |
| 4 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $57,399 |
| 5 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $85,862 |
| 6 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $100,620 |
| 7 | Las Vegas | 1 | 0% | $140,632 |
| 8 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $115,470 |
Game Artist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of game artist experts
Rider University
Webster University
Louisiana College
University of Indianapolis
Art Academy of Cincinnati
Western Illinois University
Foothill College
The University of Southern Mississippi
Elmhurst University
Ohio University
Alma College
Arizona State University
Montclair State University
Vanguard University of Southern California
Greenville University
College of Central Florida
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your 'deep why' or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of 'lodestar' for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a 'package' because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in the context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for yourself as an artist and professional.
What Game Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how to write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What will help Game Artists increase their earning potential?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your 'business' of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills 'outside the box' and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potential.
Christopher Aaron
Associate Professor of Media ArtsWebster University
Radio, Television, And Digital Communication
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Christopher Aaron: - NEGOTIATE! Always negotiate. Nobody is going to take away the job you got if you negotiate. If you are the final candidate, you are the final choice. I've found candidates who make themselves negotiate early make better pay, get more respect from their leadership, and this just sets up a precedent with your supervisor for other promotions and advancements.
- Technical skills can only increase your value as a candidate. Even 2D folks can stay abreast of the developing technology and software.
What Game Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Christopher Aaron: - Procedural approaches will be a big deal. Procedural modeling, layout, texturing, etc. will continue to replace object-based modeling and manual layout.
- AI is here. Being able to work with it will be a reality many artists are wary of.
- Virtual production will grow exponentially. Learning game engines will open up all kinds of opportunities in the game industry as well as the film industry.
- Old skills will still be needed and may become more valuable. For example, traditional frame by frame animation will be increasingly sought after as less and less people will be practicing it. We've had alumni get great positions because they were the only animators in a region that could do frame by frame. When the industry goes in one direction (like using 2.5D and cut out rigs) the skills "left behind" sometimes become obscure and gain value.
What will help Game Artists increase their earning potential?
Christopher Aaron: - Be open and adaptable and strategic. Know that most creatives do not get their dream job out of college. You may need to get a masters degree. You may need to get industry experience. So realize most need to build a career. That means starting for introductory positions, the kind that are the least popular. So maybe don't apply to Lead Character Designer at Blizzard right out of school, maybe apply for Environmental Artist or Texture Artist or Storyboard Artist at smaller studios. Once your foot is in the door, you can start networking and look to make moves to the positions you ARE interested in.
- Employers like seeing school assignments in your portfolio, but they will want to see outside work as well. I've had studio heads say they even ask candidates "Are all of these examples school assignments?" as a trick question to see if they are working on projects on their own time. If a student has more than just school assignments, it shows the drive of the potential candidate.
- Don't burn bridges and network. Students usually get their first really desirable positions from unexpected sources. Stay engaged with former peers online, use your connections for info and opportunities from your peers.
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Kathryn Baczeski: Recently, in the craft world of; ceramics, wood working, metalsmith/ jewelry, textiles, printmaking and photography - digital fabrication has been utilized as a step in the creative process more everyday. 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers and artificial intelligence are being implemented as tools to help make patterns and designs, used to make instruments to implement in the creative process and assist in the physical fabrication of objects and larger works of art.
Although the current access to these innovations is expediting the making process across multiple art mediums and fields, this popularity of technologies seems to be shortcutting the basic skill sets that are often foundational to many artistic processes. Therefore, a deep understanding and practice of traditional skills across mediums will be the most important to build upon in conjunction with these budding technological breakthroughs.
What Game Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kathryn Baczeski: For visual art students leaving school and starting their careers, there is an emphasis in teaching professional development on setting up a studio or finding a space where you are able to continue your creative practice in any capacity. In some instances, this would be a work exchange at a community studio, an internship or apprenticeship at a production studio assisting in the making of work for another well established artist /design line or a job at an institution that supports creative practice such as a school or museum. Typically residencies and internships allow their staff to continue their creative practice and research so that purchasing a bunch of equipment is not an immediate expense or obstacle for someone fresh out of an undergraduate program. I have seen students who have graduated struggle making this step in aligning themselves with a job that supports them financially while also furthering their creative explorations. These opportunities are real life applications for continuing education and learning new skills which can not be replicated in the classroom. In taking a position such as those listed above, newly graduated students learn how to communicate with the public, carve out a schedule that can accommodate both their professional and personal practices along with all of the technical aspects that go into maintaining and running a studio, school or museum.
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
gerard brown: Folks starting out in the crafts and the fine arts often think the most important thing is the images of their work they put out in the world - through social media, on grant applications, etc. But you also need to be able to write and speak about your work in ways that inspire and motivate ordinary people to share your interests. Too often, people come out of school speaking the language of school and writing for an academic reader - I wish everyone would read more good journalism about art in magazines and news papers (yes, they are online!) and learn to communicate about their work in an accessible, approachable way earlier in their careers.
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Todd Dellinger: Have a diverse and relevant toolkit of skills and expertise - creative and artistic ones, yes - but perhaps even more importantly, skills and expertise which translate into multiple, diverse corners of arts & entertainment and into other sectors. Know how to translate your artistic wizardry from the stage to a phone, from the studio to a streaming platform, from one arts discipline or style or genre to multiple others. But also, know how write up a marketing piece, a grant narrative, plan an event, manage a budget. You might find day-work in the very place where you're sharing your talent at night.
What Game Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Todd Dellinger: Adaptability to change - it's inescapable and has been forever in the arts - but change comes so swiftly and from so many directions now - particularly those changes brought about by technology and media/communications. Be ahead of the curve when it comes to what new uses of AI, what new applications for social media and how to manipulate those to your advantage, to your "business" of being an artist in this world. Entrepreneurial skills are vital in any business. You will need to be your own entrepreneur - exercising creative, innovative ways of using your talents and skills "outside the box" and applying these in parts of the industry and in other settings to expand your earning and learning potentia
What will help Game Artists increase their earning potential?
Todd Dellinger: Know thyself. This response has many facets and implications - know your "deep why" or vision of yourself as an artist and professional and frame around the impact you wish to have on others - this becomes a sort of "lodestar" for the work ahead of crafting a career. Know who you are internally, as well as externally - as a "package" because you are entering an industry where you - and the work you produce - are the commodity, for good or bad. As such, define and adhere to your boundaries - so that you cannot be taken advantage of, and can stay true to your vision. Know yourself in context of the business - and know the business aspects of what you do. You are, at the end of the day, a business - too many artists ignore that. Then, stick to your knowledge of and vision for, yourself as an artist and professional.
Nathaniel Foley
Assistant Professor of Art & DesignUniversity of Indianapolis
Fine And Studio Arts
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Nathaniel Foley: Creatives must possess the confidence to sell and speak about themselves and their multifaceted and transferable skill sets. As creative problem-solvers, artists place themselves in a unique position to be able to engage all facets of the job market to positively contribute to today's society. Never place yourself in a mindset of only being able to function as a starving artist as you have gone through extensive training to think, take risks, communicate, and make differently than other disciplines, which sets you apart and provides you a unique opportunity to craft your own path. Do not be afraid to take risks by pursuing jobs that might not completely fit your perceived path because they will open doors and opportunities in the future.
What Game Artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nathaniel Foley: As we continue to grapple with technology and its impact on society, artists will continue to find ways to use it creatively, so there will be an increase in rapid prototyping, AI, and other digital areas. Additionally, fine art-based traditions will continue to evolve and remain important as a foundation to support all technological explorations and research. The artist's toolbox will always be expanding and supported by their training and ability to think, make, take risks and communicate.
What will help Game Artists increase their earning potential?
Nathaniel Foley: A career in fine art is never a linear path like other professional fields, so one must remain flexible and aware of all opportunities that they might fit or create. Additionally, they possess numerous skill sets that are unique and they must be able to highlight them to an employer to demonstrate their value.
What skills stand out on Game Artist resumes?
Paige Williams: The skills that stand out on artist resumes are skills that distinguish them from other applicants. Potential employers are looking for individuals whose resumes provide evidence of exploration, risk-taking, and the ability to adapt. These traits are evidenced through experiences with internships, study abroad, and other real-world experiences such as client-based projects, exhibitions, performances, and readings in public spaces. Art school is experiential. Students aren't just observing but doing while they are in school. The ability to learn and adapt to new technology is also important. Art students don't just learn but utilize technological skills with purpose in their own creative work.
What skills will help Game Artists earn the most?
Paige Williams: A combination of the 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication will provide the most effective skill base for those seeking success in creative fields.
Tammy Killian
Chair - Department of Theatre and DanceWestern Illinois University
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Game Artists?
Tammy Killian: Yes, I believe that this group of graduates (2020 and 2021) will be impacted. I like to think that most graduates will be impacted in that they will be more innovative, more independent, and will have a greater sense of priorities.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Tom Gough: One thing the pandemic has prompted is some extraordinary creativity in using real-time technology. And I would say the greatest innovation from this is bridging geography. I personally have now done projects with people in different time zones and continents. I predict this sort of innovative use will continue to be employed in some respect though not replace the live experience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Game Artists?
Dr. Ashley Allen Ph.D.: In terms of employment, I hope not. Right now, there is an impact in all levels of education (PreK-higher education) because of the uncertainty of what education will "look like" in this time of COVID, and specifically what making music will look like. There are also budget issues because of lower-than-normal enrollment and the uncertainty of education in these times. I am hoping that the job market will open back up for music educators, even as early as spring 2021, but right now, we just don't know. I will say that we had great success in placing our recent music education graduates, even in these times. So it is possible to find a good job as a recent graduate, even now.
In terms of life, absolutely. We are all going through stages of grief and recovery as we navigate this new reality. We are also learning how to innovate, grow, and hopefully be more mindful of our own self-care and work-life balance. I think we are being forced to reexamine all of these things, as there are limits right now to what we can accomplish, endure, and overcome, both physically and emotionally. I think those things will last a lifetime for all of us who have lived through 2020, and will hopefully change us for the better moving forward.
Rick Arnold
Assistant Professor of Design and TechnologyElmhurst University
Department of Theatre & Dance
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Game Artists to find work opportunities?
Rick Arnold: The answer depends on what part of the entertainment industry interests them. Movies and television are centered in southern California. Live theatre is concentrated in larger cities, as are museums and concert venues. Job banks are a great place to find work or places where work is concentrated. Those are now easy to find online, so they can stay for a while where it is cheaper to live and make their way to the part of the US that has the work they are looking for.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Rick Arnold: Technology has led the industry for some time-especially when it comes to the design and execution of the visual elements. Everyone who wants to endure in the entertainment industry needs to keep up, or they will be left behind. Now that we have had this pandemic, it will be interesting to see what 'adjustments' the industry has made will stay. Really, a whole new genre of entertainment has been created-remote live events. The whole genre could have a following and continue to develop, or parts of it-the use of new or different technology-could expand into traditional performance. It will be interesting to see how it all develops from here. I do know that we, as humans, are inherently social and will happily go back to see live performance as soon as possible.
Dr. Dawn Wohn
Associate Professor of Violin, String Division ChairOhio University
Department of Fine Arts
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Dr. Dawn Wohn: As mentioned before, the pandemic has made musicians embrace technology. Many musicians use apps to layer recorded music to perform "together" digital concerts, and live streams have become the norm, and online music festivals, seminars, and lessons have become normalized. Advancements in these technologies, that are tailored to music-making and teaching needs, have been popping up quickly in response to the limitations that we have been facing with social distancing. In the next five years, I imagine that many of the frustrations that we face with the current technology will be much improved, and that musicians will be continuing to use technology to enhance and expand the musical experiences that we create and provide.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Game Artists?
Rosely Conz: The Covid-19 pandemic is already having a huge impact on the performing arts industry with cancellations; theatres closed, furloughs, and seasons going online. I believe the solution will be for graduates to reinvent themselves - to find new abilities (video editing, social media skills, anything related to the online environment...), to look for funding in grants, and to prepare to combine their dance majors with maybe a second area or major - business, health professions, education, etc. Also, taking advantage of online classes and workshops to keep yourself moving and motivated as much as possible. Meanwhile, we as artists need to unite and fight for better working conditions, health insurance, etc.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Game Artists to find work opportunities?
David Barker: I suggest seeking areas where film, television, and media arts are still prominent. Fortunately for graduates of Arizona State University, we have positioned exactly the same distance (400 miles) from 2 of those areas: Hollywood, CA, and Albuquerque, NM. However, "good places" now exist virtually. So, all graduates must develop a strong online presence using the many social, artistic, and business websites and apps.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
David Barker: There will continue to be a significant struggle for actors in training to empathize with the human condition. This struggle began in the late '90s when cell phones became readily available for most people, and it gets worse every year. Student actors grow up learning that connection between 2 people (a connection that is at the very core of theatre) is normally achieved by sending text and images on the phone.
And while these images can readily express feelings, they are pathetically inaccurate accounts of actual human conditions. So, while technology will help in many ways, most likely in the areas of design, it will continue to erode the heart and soul of this art form: the examination and expression of the human condition.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Kathleen Kelley: I think dance films, live streams, and virtual performances will become significantly more important to the field, and dance companies and choreographers will be imagining new ways of bringing the performance to the audience. As of right now, the field is still figuring out how to turn that open nature of performance into financial support, but I believe it will happen. We are already seeing European choreographers who have decided to forgo flying because of the environmental impact of touring by air. They are working on other options including Zoom/Facetime rehearsals, and touring by train or electric bus with regional stops in between. Technology will help support this kind of eco-aware performance model and will allow for more virtual rehearsals and residencies. From a training perspective, technology will allow students to train with guest artists from around the world, augmenting (but not replacing) in-person training. Dance thrives in liveness, and so even though technology will help facilitate more virtual dance experiences, I believe that live performance and training will still be valued, and might even be more appreciated because of its live presence.
Lia Hansen
Associate Professor of TheatreVanguard University of Southern California
Department of Theatre Arts
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Game Artists?
Lia Hansen: I'm sure there will be. It is hard to assess at this time exactly how it will impact the entertainment industry long-term. People need theatre, so it will endure, but the form may alter in ways we can't really predict.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Paul Sunderland: Without question, technology will be a required skill for worship leaders and church musicians in the future! Having technology skills relevant to online worship will be foundational for the work of worship leaders from this point forward. No longer can a church musician simply focus on creating music? They now must also know how to deliver their music (and the entire worship service) through recordings and live to stream. The visual side of worship will also be vital to understand. For an online worship service, you cannot invite people to "turn in your hymnal to page number ..." Projecting the lyrics through presentational software is becoming even more standardized due to COVID. The real question becomes, how do we practice "liturgical discernment" in order to determine how technology serves our worship services, rather than using technology in a way that treats worship as entertainment.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Artists in the next 5 years?
Alison Petty Ragguette: Online teaching art is happening and will likely remain in some capacity. Certainly, not all art forms do well in the online environment, but it is amazing how we are adapting to this change. Virtual reality exhibitions are becoming our only way to exhibit art, along with virtual art openings and artist talks.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Game Artists to find work opportunities?
Alison Petty Ragguette: 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.
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.
Department Chair Visual and Performing Arts, Professor of Music and HumanitiesCollege of Central Florida
Engineering Technology
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Game Artists in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Sarah Satterfield Ph.D.: Technology is constantly evolving and changing the way we experience the arts, generally for the better. I anticipate great strides in the fields of digital media and digital music. Technology affords us the opportunity to connect with a larger, more global audience on the one hand, and also kindle in a younger generation an interest in the arts.
What general advice would you give to a Game Artist?
Kimberly Weast: At this time, work on creating your work and presenting it - however you can. This is a prime opportunity to break molds that have been in place for many years. Work on building your webpage, Instagram, and improve your other social media presence. Still, practice your craft. Professionals are professionals because they practice and stay equipped.