A level designer makes between five and six figures a year, depending on several factors. The level designer’s experience level, location, and studio size largely impact the amount of money they take home. Entry-level designers make significantly less than senior-level designers, due to senior-level designers leading the design team and making high-level design choices for a game.
Level design is only one facet of game design, so designers who are looking to niche down in the gaming industry must know the type of income they’ll stand to earn to ensure the salary matches their needs and expectations. Read on to find out how much a level designer makes, their hourly and annuallywage, including the wage difference between entry-level and senior level designers, and how much a level designer makes when they’re entry-level, associates, and senior -level designers.
How much does a level designer make?
A level designer makes between $29,000 and $144,820 a year based on their experience, the location, and the team size. Experience impacts a level designer’s salary, with more eExperienced level designers earning more than entry-level designers, as in most fields. Along with experience, the location and size of the studio impacts the salary. Studios in states that support game development, such as California, have more resources to spend on employees, including level designers. Another critical factor that influences a level’s designer salary is the size of the team and studio. AAA studios are able have even more resources, allowing them to pay level designers more than an indie studio that’s on a strict budget.
Level designers who have zero to three years of experience are at the lower end of the salary range. Entry-level designers tend to get paid around $29,000 at the lowest, while the bottom 10% of level designers earn around $47,000. Once level designers gain a year or two of experience, their salary increases to around $45,000. Starting at year three, level designers earn, $55,000 on average, around $55,000, although this number largely depends on the studio’s location and size.
Average salaries for level designers differ based on whether they’re in the United States or not. The average salary of a level designer as a whole in the United States is between $70,539 and $90,270. In 2026, the average salary for a level designer is $78,108.
Senior level designers earn the highest salary, due to their extensive experience and time spent in the industry. Decisions made by senior designers affect the rest of the team and guide the entire development process, so their wisdom and experience is essential. The top salary for senior game level designers is around $144,820. The top 10% of senior level designers earn around $110,653.
What is the hourly rate for a level designer?
The hourly rate for a level designer is between $14 and $56.28, depending on experience level. Entry-levelNewer level designers earn the lowest hourly wages since they’re learning the ropes and gaining experience. Senior level designers earn the highest hourly wage, since their expertise is heavily relied on during game development.
Entry-level hourly wages begin at $14 an hour on average. Larger studios with bigger budgets are able to offer betweenaround $27.30 at the lower range of hourly wages, up to roughly . The higher end of entry-level hourly wages brings that amount to $27.81. Entry-level level designers looking to earn a living income are going to need to target larger studios to take advantage of their larger budgets.
Average hourly wages for mid-level level designers sit at around $24 an hour. The average hourly wage ranges from $34 to $36.53 for experienced level designers. In February 2026, the average hourly wage was $31. Studios with larger budgets pay their experienced level designers up to $44.70. Level designers are clearly able to expect higher wages the longer they work and the more experience they gain.
Senior-level level game designers receive the upper echelon of hourly wages. The overall average for senior-level level game designers is $56.28. In February 2026, the average for senior level designers was $52.66.
What is the salary for an entry-level game designer?
The salary for an entry-level game designer is between $47,350 and $172,094 in the United States, and around £22,000 in the United Kingdom, depending on the team size and additional skills. Entry-level game designers aren’t paid as much as senior designers, as the main benefit is gaining experience and making connections. As a game designer puts in the work, however, their salary increases.
The low-end of the salary range for an entry-level game designer is between $47,350 and $50,000 in the United States. The lowest typical wage for designers as a whole is $47,350, while $50,000 reflects the low end of entry-level game designers specifically. Entry-level designers have minimal experience, if any, and a sparse portfolio. Since entry-level designers aren’t able to provide many examples of past work, studios take on more risk by hiring them. The risk is offset by lower salaries. When I was hired by a AAA studio as a junior, I was making around $65,000 at the start. I’ve even known entry-level designers to make up to $70,000 a year, but the size of the studio is a major factor behind salaries.
An average salary for an entry-level game designer is around $71,708 in the United States and around £22,000 in the United Kingdom. The average hourly wage in the United States is $44.26. In the United States, the median total pay for April 2025 was $84,000, while the average salary in February 2026 was $92,051. The increase demonstrates growing wages for level game designers, even when they’re beginners. Entry-level game designers who obtain this salary typically have a little experience, a portfolio showing different projects they’ve worked on, and a connection or mentor who supports them.
The high-end salary range for entry-level game designers sits between $80,000 and $172,094. $80,000 reflects the high-end range for entry-level designers, while $172,094 is the highest typical wage on average. Entry-level designers who receive this wage are typically hired on by AAA studios and have additional skills to offer, a portfolio showing many projects, and a mentor with the right connections.
What is the salary for an associate level designer?
The salary for an associate level designer is between $50,000 and $85,365, depending on the location and studio size. Associate level designers have put in a few years in the studio, building their skills and proving to the studio that their talents are valuable. Studios increase salaries for associate-level game designers to keep them from moving to a new studio. They want to hold onto their talent. The salary for average-level designers varies by location, though.
The average salary for an associate-level game designer in California is different from a designer in New York. Californian associate-level designers earn between $50,000 and $70,000. The difference between low and high wages in California comes down to experience, the city in California they’re in, and the size of the studio. In New York, the average salary for an associate-level designer is around $70,841. As someone who’s worked as a game designer for five years, my salary has increased to $92,000. The more experience that a game designer gains, the higher their salary becomes, particularly when influenced by location and studio size.
Average salaries for an associate-level designer across the United States range from $79,137 to $85,365. The lower approximate average salary that reflects the designer’s location, industry, and level is around $56,770. Indeed calculated the average salary as $70,949 based on 555 listed salaries on its job board. Yet, in February 2026, the average salary for associates was around $76,930.
What is the salary for a senior level designer?
The salary for a senior level designer is between $65,838 and $302,000, depending on their level of experience and additional responsibilities. Senior level designers have worked in the studio for several years, handling high-level design choices and mentoring new game designers that have joined the studio. Their years of experience are reflected in their larger salaries, but just as with any game studio, the salary is influenced by the studio’s size.
According to Indeed and Payscale, the average salary for a senior-level game designer is $108,685 or $65,839, respectively. Indeed based its average on 2,200 salaries across its job boards, while Payscale calculated its average for 2026 thus far. The general average for senior-level game designers in the United States is $105,563. On February 1st, 2026, the average salary was listed at $94,671, but for the entire month of February, the average had increased to $106,475. Senior game designers with additional responsibilities have an average salary of $80,000.
High-end salaries for senior-level game designers reach around $247,000. This amount is based on four profiles with listed salaries between $230,000 and $302,000. To attain this high-end salary, senior designers need to have put in several years at the studio and taken on additional responsibilities, such as spearheading other departments. The studio size plays a major factor, too, with higher salaries stemming from AAA studios.
