Best cities for a game programmer
The best cities for game programmers are Raleigh, NC, Sacramento, CA, and Durham, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for game programmers vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for game programmers in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a game programmer or considering a move, this list of the best cities for game programmers to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for game programmers. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a game programmer. While the absolute best city for game programmers is Raleigh, NC, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for game programmers in 2024.
If you're looking for a game programmer job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for game programmers in 2025
1. Raleigh, NC
Total game programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $97,668 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 21.92 2. Sacramento, CA
Total game programmer jobs: 3 Average annual salary: $119,349 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 13.69 3. Durham, NC
Total game programmer jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $97,597 Lowest 10 percent warn: $68,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 11.70 4. Las Vegas, NV
Total game programmer jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $87,544 Lowest 10 percent warn: $59,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000 Location quotient: 28.28 5. Boston, MA
Total game programmer jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $105,528 Lowest 10 percent warn: $73,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 11.97 6. San Francisco, CA
Total game programmer jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $119,346 Lowest 10 percent warn: $81,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $175,000 Location quotient: 5.71 7. Seattle, WA
Total game programmer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $113,200 Lowest 10 percent warn: $78,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $163,000 Location quotient: 4.51 8. Los Angeles, CA
Total game programmer jobs: 27 Average annual salary: $104,835 Lowest 10 percent warn: $72,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $152,000 Location quotient: 29.96 9. Irvine, CA
Total game programmer jobs: 20 Average annual salary: $103,822 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $150,000 Location quotient: 69.67 10. Indianapolis, IN
Total game programmer jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $85,643 Lowest 10 percent warn: $61,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 9.66
Best cities for game programmers
- Raleigh, NC
- Sacramento, CA
- Durham, NC
- Las Vegas, NV
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Irvine, CA
- Indianapolis, IN
- (6 game programmer jobs)
- (3 game programmer jobs)
- (2 game programmer jobs)
- (7 game programmer jobs)
- (9 game programmer jobs)
- (6 game programmer jobs)
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- (20 game programmer jobs)
- (4 game programmer jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a game programmer
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raleigh, NC | $97,668 | $68,000 | 458,880 | 6 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $119,349 | $81,000 | 495,234 | 3 |
| 3 | Durham, NC | $97,597 | $68,000 | 263,016 | 2 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $87,544 | $59,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $105,528 | $73,000 | 673,184 | 9 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $119,346 | $81,000 | 870,887 | 6 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $113,200 | $78,000 | 704,352 | 4 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $104,835 | $72,000 | 3,976,322 | 27 |
| 9 | Irvine, CA | $103,822 | $71,000 | 266,122 | 20 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $85,643 | $61,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,843 | $63,000 | 1,567,872 | 2 |
| 12 | Oklahoma City, OK | $81,594 | $57,000 | 638,367 | 3 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh, PA | $88,140 | $61,000 | 303,625 | 2 |
| 14 | Greensboro, NC | $96,725 | $67,000 | 287,027 | - |
| 15 | Winston-Salem, NC | $96,194 | $67,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 16 | Oakland, CA | $119,119 | $81,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $94,287 | $65,000 | 842,051 | 2 |
| 18 | Stockton, CA | $118,612 | $80,000 | 307,072 | - |
| 19 | Portland, OR | $100,099 | $69,000 | 639,863 | 2 |
| 20 | Fremont, CA | $118,300 | $80,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 21 | Reno, NV | $95,414 | $64,000 | 245,255 | - |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,924 | $58,000 | 1,615,017 | 5 |
| 23 | Austin, TX | $83,626 | $56,000 | 947,890 | 14 |
| 24 | San Jose, CA | $117,635 | $80,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 25 | Henderson, NV | $86,934 | $58,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 26 | Detroit, MI | $82,795 | $58,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 27 | Nashville, TN | $76,815 | $54,000 | 660,388 | 5 |
| 28 | Fort Wayne, IN | $87,335 | $61,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 29 | El Paso, TX | $85,722 | $58,000 | 683,080 | - |
| 30 | Lincoln, NE | $81,130 | $57,000 | 280,364 | 3 |
| 31 | Fresno, CA | $114,371 | $77,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 32 | Anchorage, AK | $97,075 | $73,000 | 298,192 | - |
| 33 | Bakersfield, CA | $109,511 | $74,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 34 | North Las Vegas, NV | $87,487 | $59,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 35 | Long Beach, CA | $104,184 | $71,000 | 470,130 | - |
| 36 | Anaheim, CA | $104,126 | $71,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 37 | Glendale, AZ | $85,955 | $58,000 | 245,895 | - |
| 38 | Riverside, CA | $103,979 | $71,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 39 | Santa Ana, CA | $103,963 | $71,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 40 | San Antonio, TX | $83,597 | $56,000 | 1,492,510 | 2 |
| 41 | Columbus, OH | $77,060 | $54,000 | 860,090 | 5 |
| 42 | Scottsdale, AZ | $85,871 | $58,000 | 246,645 | - |
| 43 | Chandler, AZ | $85,602 | $58,000 | 247,477 | - |
| 44 | Mesa, AZ | $85,597 | $58,000 | 484,587 | - |
| 45 | Lubbock, TX | $84,092 | $57,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 46 | Cleveland, OH | $78,283 | $54,000 | 385,809 | - |
| 47 | Gilbert, AZ | $85,552 | $58,000 | 237,133 | - |
| 48 | Milwaukee, WI | $81,556 | $57,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 49 | New Orleans, LA | $80,982 | $52,000 | 391,495 | 2 |
| 50 | Chicago, IL | $88,720 | $63,000 | 2,704,958 | 2 |
Highest paying cities for game programmers
| Rank | City | Avg. game programmer salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $119,930 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $113,200 |
| 3 | Quincy, MA | $105,623 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $102,088 |
| 5 | Bend, OR | $100,758 |
| 6 | Raleigh, NC | $97,668 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $91,068 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,843 |
| 9 | Salt Lake City, UT | $89,299 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $88,720 |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | $87,544 |
| 12 | Phoenix, AZ | $85,924 |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $85,643 |
| 14 | Austin, TX | $83,626 |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $81,814 |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | $80,982 |
| 17 | Gainesville, FL | $78,290 |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $77,060 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $76,046 |
| 20 | Denver, CO | $74,750 |
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Updated January 8, 2025