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Entry Level Gaming Jobs in Madison, WI (NOW HIRING)

This is an entry-level web developer position at Hardin Design & Development. The pay range for ... casual dress code, game room, and a large open office right in the heart of Madison's East ...

Web Developer - Entry Level

Madison, WI · On-site +1

$55K - $70K/yr

This is an entry-level web developer position at Hardin Design & Development. The pay range for ... casual dress code, game room, and a large open office right in the heart of Madison's East ...

This is an entry-level web developer position at Hardin Design & Development. The pay range for ... casual dress code, game room, and a large open office right in the heart of Madison's East ...

Entry Level Gaming information

See Madison, WI salary details

$13

$17

$22

How much do entry level gaming jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average hourly pay for entry level gaming in Madison, WI is $17.07, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $15.72 and $18.17 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an entry level gaming job?

Entry level gaming jobs are positions within the video game industry that require little to no prior experience. These roles often include game testing (quality assurance), customer support, junior game designer, or community moderator. They provide an opportunity for individuals to gain experience and learn about the industry while developing relevant skills. Entry level positions are ideal for those looking to start a career in gaming or transition from a related field. Many roles provide on-the-job training and the chance to work with experienced professionals.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level gaming professional?

To thrive in an Entry Level Gaming position, you typically need a strong passion for video games, basic knowledge of game mechanics, and familiarity with platforms such as PC or consoles; a high school diploma is often sufficient. Experience with gaming software, troubleshooting tools, and communication platforms like Discord or Steam is helpful. Strong teamwork, communication skills, and adaptability make candidates stand out in collaborative and fast-changing environments. These skills are crucial for understanding user needs, supporting team goals, and effectively resolving issues within the gaming industry.

What are some common challenges faced by entry-level professionals in the gaming industry, and how can they overcome them?

Entry-level professionals in the gaming industry often face challenges such as adapting to fast-paced project cycles, learning to work within multidisciplinary teams, and keeping up with rapidly evolving technologies. Overcoming these challenges involves proactive communication, seeking feedback from experienced colleagues, and dedicating time to continual learning through tutorials and industry resources. Embracing collaboration and being open to constructive criticism can help accelerate growth, while building a strong portfolio and participating in game jams can also enhance practical skills and networking opportunities.

What is the difference between Entry Level Gaming vs Entry Level Game Tester?

AspectEntry Level GamingEntry Level Game Tester
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; passion for gamingHigh school diploma; knowledge of game mechanics
Work EnvironmentGame development studios, retail, online platformsGame development companies, testing labs
Industry UsageBroadly used in gaming industry rolesSpecific to quality assurance and testing
Common Search IntentEntry level gaming jobs, gaming careersGame testing jobs, QA testing roles

Entry Level Gaming generally refers to a broad range of beginner roles within the gaming industry, including customer support, community management, or entry-level development. Entry Level Game Tester specifically focuses on quality assurance testing to identify bugs and improve game quality. While both roles require a passion for gaming and basic industry knowledge, game testing is more specialized in QA processes. Understanding these differences helps job seekers target the right positions based on their skills and career goals.

What are the most commonly searched types of Gaming jobs in Madison, WI?

The most popular types of Gaming jobs in Madison, WI are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Gaming jobs in Madison, WI?

For Entry Level Gaming jobs in Madison, WI, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What cities near Madison, WI are hiring for Entry Level Gaming jobs?

Cities near Madison, WI with the most Entry Level Gaming job openings:

Infographic showing various Entry Level Gaming job openings in Madison, WI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 83% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 48% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 51% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $35,496 per year, or $17.1 per hour.

Web Developer - Entry Level

Madison, WI • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Posted 18 days ago


Job description

Company Description

At Hardin Design & Development, we are passionate about creating awesome software, web applications and mobile for our customers. We work with everyone, from startups to the Fortune 500 companies, and take the same degree of pride in our work no matter the client. Our designers create elegant, easy to use interfaces and our developers bring cutting edge expertise to our projects, with an eye for quality, security and bug-free code.
 

We'd love for you to check out some of our favorite projects featured in our portfolio and read about how we've helped our clients accomplish their technology goals. Visit our website at www.hardindd.com and apply to join the Hardin Team today

Job Description

ON SITE ONLY. Our company is open to hybrid models and remote work with trusted long term employees, but new hires must start out working from our Madison office.

This is an entry-level web developer position at Hardin Design & Development. The pay range for this role is between $55,000 to $70,000 annually.

From the top down, our staff adapt quickly and confidently “wear a lot of hats”, and we highly value that in potential new team members.  We believe strongly in choosing the right tool for the job, so our projects can vary widely in the tech stacks we use. We’re looking for individuals with diverse skill sets that share our passion for learning, growing, and making new things work.

We believe that the best way to grow as developers is by tackling new experiences head-on, and our staff, past and present, can attest to that.  Even as an entry-level position, you’ll be expected to fully participate in all aspects of the development process. Responsibilities include web application design and development, daily interaction with clients, and application planning and implementation.

As a full-time (40 hr/wk) position, we are proud to offer an in-network POS healthcare plan with minimum co-pays through Quartz as well as a retirement package. As multiple time winners of Madison Magazine’s Best Places to Work Award, we also offer an easy-going work atmosphere with a casual dress code, game room, and a large open office right in the heart of Madison’s East Washington corridor. There is also the opportunity for career advancement within the company.

Qualifications

A college degree in computer science or related field is preferred, but not required. Other combinations of training and/or experience which can be demonstrated to result in possession of the knowledge, skills and abilities that are needed to perform the tasks of this position will also be considered.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • A solid base-level understanding of basic algorithms and data structures, as well as how to implement/use them is required.  A good candidate should also have in-depth proficiency in one or more programing languages.
  • Preference will be given to candidates with proficiency in relevant languages and technologies such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, etc.  The ability to run and maintain at least one common web application stack (such as LAMP) as well as a background working with relational databases (SQL) is also desired, but not strictly required.
  • The project we are hiring for has a tech stack of PHP and React, knowledge of both is a major plus

Bonus Qualifications:

While not strict requirements for this role, we consider it a plus if a candidate has experience in the following:

  • Experience maintaining infrastructure hosted by Amazon Web Services or a similar cloud provider is a plus. 
  • Strong consideration will be given to candidates with experience working with any common front-end frameworks (ReactJS, VueJS, Angular, etc.) or back-end frameworks (Laravel, Symfony, Express in Node.js, Django in Python, etc.).
  • Experience with CI/CD solutions.
  • Experience with Docker
  • Design, browser compatibility, a demonstration of strong technical proficiency, breadth of knowledge, the ability to learn quickly, and a strong desire to grow as a developer.

Additional Information

Unfortunately, at this time we cannot provide Visa sponsorship. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.