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Best states for a game developer
Quoted expert
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
We decided to bring you a list of the best states for jobs for game developers in the United States. Game developer positions are available in every state, but not all states are the same. Some states do not offer the same wages, benefits, time off, etc for game developers.Our research found that California is the best state for game developers, while California and Nevada are ranked highest in terms of median salary. California has a median salary of $113,669 and California has the highest median salary among all 50 states for game developers.
We figured that the best places for game developer jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.If you are currently seeking employment as a game developer, you can find open job positions using Zippia's search tools.
10 best states for game developers in 2025
1. California
Total game developer jobs: 5,160 Average annual salary: $113,669 Lowest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $165,000 Location Quotient: 1.182. Oregon
Total game developer jobs: 641 Average annual salary: $101,456 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location Quotient: 1.043. Washington
Total game developer jobs: 1,034 Average annual salary: $106,018 Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location Quotient: 0.954. Massachusetts
Total game developer jobs: 1,511 Average annual salary: $98,788 Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location Quotient: 1.15. Montana
Total game developer jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $90,611 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location Quotient: 1.186. Idaho
Total game developer jobs: 287 Average annual salary: $90,799 Lowest 10 percent earn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000 Location Quotient: 1.177. Nevada
Total game developer jobs: 253 Average annual salary: $109,539 Lowest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000 Location Quotient: 0.818. District of Columbia
Total game developer jobs: 511 Average annual salary: $98,224 Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location Quotient: 2.049. Arizona
Total game developer jobs: 747 Average annual salary: $94,894 Lowest 10 percent earn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $134,000 Location Quotient: 0.8510. Arkansas
Total game developer jobs: 349 Average annual salary: $86,400 Lowest 10 percent earn: $63,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Location Quotient: 0.89
Game developer jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a game developer
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a game developer
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $113,669 | $77,000 | 39,536,653 | 5,160 |
| 2 | Oregon | $101,456 | $70,000 | 4,142,776 | 641 |
| 3 | Washington | $106,018 | $73,000 | 7,405,743 | 1,034 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $98,788 | $68,000 | 6,859,819 | 1,511 |
| 5 | Montana | $90,611 | $63,000 | 1,050,493 | 204 |
| 6 | Idaho | $90,799 | $62,000 | 1,716,943 | 287 |
| 7 | Nevada | $109,539 | $74,000 | 2,998,039 | 253 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $98,224 | $70,000 | 693,972 | 511 |
| 9 | Arizona | $94,894 | $66,000 | 7,016,270 | 747 |
| 10 | Arkansas | $86,400 | $63,000 | 3,004,279 | 349 |
| 11 | Maine | $86,544 | $60,000 | 1,335,907 | 204 |
| 12 | Delaware | $87,082 | $61,000 | 961,939 | 202 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $83,923 | $59,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,889 |
| 14 | Utah | $84,062 | $57,000 | 3,101,833 | 599 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $89,353 | $61,000 | 1,342,795 | 232 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $87,463 | $61,000 | 9,005,644 | 1,335 |
| 17 | Vermont | $82,128 | $57,000 | 623,657 | 174 |
| 18 | Texas | $82,095 | $59,000 | 28,304,596 | 3,260 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $84,005 | $62,000 | 4,454,189 | 480 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $79,770 | $55,000 | 1,059,639 | 247 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $81,242 | $57,000 | 2,088,070 | 279 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $82,114 | $60,000 | 10,273,419 | 1,340 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $83,222 | $60,000 | 1,815,857 | 168 |
| 24 | Virginia | $81,134 | $58,000 | 8,470,020 | 2,306 |
| 25 | New York | $90,078 | $63,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,517 |
| 26 | Missouri | $81,959 | $60,000 | 6,113,532 | 751 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $81,098 | $60,000 | 6,715,984 | 584 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $76,530 | $54,000 | 579,315 | 114 |
| 29 | Florida | $82,246 | $59,000 | 20,984,400 | 2,034 |
| 30 | Georgia | $80,028 | $59,000 | 10,429,379 | 1,459 |
| 31 | Indiana | $78,211 | $57,000 | 6,666,818 | 903 |
| 32 | Kansas | $76,306 | $56,000 | 2,913,123 | 470 |
| 33 | Ohio | $78,478 | $56,000 | 11,658,609 | 1,264 |
| 34 | Colorado | $78,025 | $55,000 | 5,607,154 | 970 |
| 35 | Michigan | $77,556 | $55,000 | 9,962,311 | 1,036 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $79,576 | $58,000 | 5,024,369 | 356 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $75,028 | $55,000 | 755,393 | 130 |
| 38 | Maryland | $75,473 | $53,000 | 6,052,177 | 1,345 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $76,103 | $55,000 | 5,795,483 | 687 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $76,423 | $53,000 | 3,588,184 | 470 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $73,846 | $54,000 | 5,576,606 | 1,027 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $72,429 | $53,000 | 1,920,076 | 314 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $72,233 | $56,000 | 1,427,538 | 118 |
| 44 | Alabama | $74,286 | $54,000 | 4,874,747 | 515 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $75,124 | $54,000 | 4,684,333 | 359 |
| 46 | Illinois | $69,074 | $50,000 | 12,802,023 | 1,721 |
| 47 | Alaska | $71,967 | $54,000 | 739,795 | 102 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $72,808 | $53,000 | 2,984,100 | 169 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $67,365 | $49,000 | 869,666 | 130 |
| 50 | Iowa | $66,924 | $49,000 | 3,145,711 | 437 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $66,697 | $49,000 | 3,930,864 | 274 |
Highest paying states for game developers
| Rank | State | Avg. Game Developer Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $113,669 |
| 2 | Oregon | $101,456 |
| 3 | Washington | $106,018 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $98,788 |
| 5 | Montana | $90,611 |
| 6 | Idaho | $90,799 |
| 7 | Nevada | $109,539 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | $98,224 |
| 9 | Arizona | $94,894 |
| 10 | Arkansas | $86,400 |
| 11 | Maine | $86,544 |
| 12 | Delaware | $87,082 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $83,923 |
| 14 | Utah | $84,062 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $89,353 |
| 16 | New Jersey | $87,463 |
| 17 | Vermont | $82,128 |
| 18 | Texas | $82,095 |
| 19 | Kentucky | $84,005 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $79,770 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $81,242 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $82,114 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $83,222 |
| 24 | Virginia | $81,134 |
| 25 | New York | $90,078 |
| 26 | Missouri | $81,959 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $81,098 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $76,530 |
| 29 | Florida | $82,246 |
| 30 | Georgia | $80,028 |
| 31 | Indiana | $78,211 |
| 32 | Kansas | $76,306 |
| 33 | Ohio | $78,478 |
| 34 | Colorado | $78,025 |
| 35 | Michigan | $77,556 |
| 36 | South Carolina | $79,576 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $75,028 |
| 38 | Maryland | $75,473 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $76,103 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $76,423 |
| 41 | Minnesota | $73,846 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $72,429 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $72,233 |
| 44 | Alabama | $74,286 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $75,124 |
| 46 | Illinois | $69,074 |
| 47 | Alaska | $71,967 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $72,808 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $67,365 |
| 50 | Iowa | $66,924 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $66,697 |
Expert opinions on the best states for game developers
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for game developers to find work opportunities?
Dr. Ted Junseok Song
Associate Professor of Engineering, John Brown University
Due to COVID-19, people have more choices on location as more companies allow their employees to work remotely.
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Updated January 8, 2025