Salary of a Game Scripter
- Since game scripters may be classified as either programmers or designers, depending on the company, their salary can vary accordingly. According to the 2010 Game Developer magazine's annual salary survey, programmers earn an average of $85,733 whereas designers earn $70,223.
- There can be a steep climb from entry level to senior pay as the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) notes that programmers with one to two years' experience earn only $55,000, and their design counterparts earn $50,000. By contrast, those with more than six years' experience can expect up to $106,000.
- The highest salaries paid in games, as in many other industries, are in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York. Earnings in other game development hubs such as Seattle, Austin and Boston are generally lower. Company size and age is an even bigger factor with "indie" developers reporting salaries nearly half those at larger publisher-owned companies.
- Long gone are the days when designers at top firms earn substantial royalties, though equity or profit sharing can make up the bulk of compensation paid at start-up and casual games studios. Some scripters do earn project-based bonuses, which can range widely from zero into the tens of thousands of dollars.
