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Job outlook for lead game designers in the United States
Are lead game designer jobs in demand?
Lead game designer job and salary trends over time
Lead game designer jobs over time
Lead game designer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 959 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 947 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,015 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 948 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 785 | 0.00% |
Average lead game designer salary over time
Lead game designer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $108,878 | $52.35 | +3.4% |
| 2024 | $105,291 | $50.62 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | $102,907 | $49.47 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $100,900 | $48.51 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | $98,620 | $47.41 | +1.5% |
Lead game designer jobs by state
Most common states for lead game designers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 189 | 27% |
| 2 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 661 | 21% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 185 | 18% |
| 4 | Alaska | 739,795 | 123 | 17% |
| 5 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 278 | 16% |
| 6 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 431 | 15% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 294 | 15% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 127 | 15% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 266 | 13% |
| 10 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 358 | 12% |
| 11 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 349 | 12% |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 379 | 10% |
| 13 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 688 | 9% |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 605 | 9% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 368 | 9% |
| 16 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,618 | 7% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 690 | 7% |
| 18 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 591 | 7% |
| 19 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 366 | 7% |
| 20 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 88 | 7% |
Most common cities for lead game designers
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 3 | 0% | $123,725 |
| 2 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $94,140 |
Lead Game Designer job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of lead game designer experts
Marywood University
Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Montclair State University
AIGA, the professional association for design
Sue Jenkins
Associate ProfessorMarywood University
Art Department
What type of skills will young Lead Game Designers need?
Sue Jenkins: A strong understanding of the Principles and Elements of Art and Design, killer typography skills, an understanding of color theory, some training in sociology and psychology to gain a better understanding of user experience, creative and critical thinking skills, attention to details, a strong conceptual framework that supports the project goals, the ability to speak up, take critical feedback and be a team player, and above all the courage to be authentic and bring something fresh to the table.
What general advice would you give to a Lead Game Designer?
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.
How would you rate the starting salaries for Lead Game Designers, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Abby Guido: Designers can be well-compensated for their work. Some design areas are more lucrative than others, which tend to be the jobs in digital design. These jobs include user-experience design, experiential design, interactive design, motion design, and all AR and VR design positions.
What skills stand out on Lead Game Designer 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.
How do you envision technology impacting Lead Game Designers 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 Lead Game Designers 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.