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Job outlook for game designer/creative directors in the United States
Are game designer/creative director jobs in demand?
Game designer/creative director job and salary trends over time
Game designer/creative director jobs over time
Game designer/creative director job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 11 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 12 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 12 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 12 | 0.00% |
Average game designer/creative director salary over time
Game designer/creative director salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $69,870 | $33.59 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $68,207 | $32.79 | +3.5% |
| 2023 | $65,930 | $31.70 | +3.4% |
| 2022 | $63,744 | $30.65 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | $62,357 | $29.98 | +1.6% |
Game designer/creative director jobs by state
Most common states for game designer/creative directors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 195 | 28% |
| 2 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 204 | 23% |
| 3 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 393 | 19% |
| 4 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 835 | 17% |
| 5 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 294 | 16% |
| 6 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 671 | 14% |
| 7 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 593 | 13% |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 498 | 13% |
| 9 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 724 | 10% |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 642 | 9% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 387 | 9% |
| 12 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,919 | 7% |
| 13 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 615 | 7% |
| 14 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 371 | 7% |
| 15 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 218 | 7% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,208 | 6% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 716 | 6% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 676 | 6% |
| 19 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 352 | 6% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 63 | 6% |
Game Designer/Creative Director job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of game designer/creative director experts
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Kansas City Art Institute
Montclair State University
AIGA, the professional association for design
What general advice would you give to a Game Designer/Creative Director?
Abby Guido: We've all heard the buzz about networking, and there is so much buzz because it works. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is both up to date and active. Connect with all of your past professors, classmates, and anyone and everyone you meet in a professional setting. I often tell students to get into the habit of searching for any classroom guests, or guest lecturers, to connect, thank them for their time, and build their network. Share content. Write articles, or reshare those you find interesting.
Every job I have ever received in my career has been through someone else I know. I share this with students to help them see the value in relationships. I always remember the students that took the time to write a handwritten thank-you note. And I think of them when I get an email asking if I know any students are looking for work.
What skills stand out on Game Designer/Creative Director resumes?
Dr. Jennifer Jorgensen Ph.D.: The retail industry is robust and requires many skills. Content and industry-related knowledge are essential, including comfort with computer applications like Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Excel. Beyond knowledge of the industry, job candidates need excellent communication skills in written and oral forms. It's also highly recommended that job candidates have work experience in their area of interest, which could include an internship, job shadow, or part-time position.
What general advice would you give to a Game Designer/Creative Director?
Chris Chapin: My advice to all students and graduates is to be entrepreneurial. I define entrepreneurship as a skill set that helps us bring great design solutions to life and into the lives of those who need them. It is part business, part implementation strategy, and can manifest as a new business, as social entrepreneurship, or as intrapreneurship. In either case, it broadens career options for graduates and empowers them with the confidence and skillsets to take control of their careers.
How do you envision technology impacting Game Designer/Creative Directors in the next 5 years?
Lauren Carr: We see so much possibility and growth in VR, AR, and gaming engines. In my estimation, the future looks very exciting.
What type of skills will young Game Designer/Creative Directors need?
Bennie F. Johnson: Our Design Futures research from 2018 covered this topic in some detail. Some highlights of needed skills include an understanding of business models, complex systems, and data. One of the seven Design Futures trends is "Bridging Physical and Digital Experiences," which has become even more important in a COVID world. Of course, mastering craft and specific tools remain important, especially for entry-level work, but so is a general ability to "learn how to learn," as the rate of technical change (and obsolescence) is only getting faster.
In May of 2020, AIGA conducted an industry pulse check survey around the impact of COVID-19 on the design community and found, not surprisingly, that adaptability skills continue to be the most critical for design professionals, and collaboration made the list of top five skills for the first time.