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Entry Level Indie Game Developer Jobs (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 ยท 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 ...

Web Developer - Entry Level

Madison, WI ยท On-site

$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 ...

Human Resources Intern

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$18 - $20/hr

ABOUT US Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with ...

Human Resources Intern

Los Angeles, CA

$16.25 - $21.50/hr

ABOUT US Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with ...

ABOUT US Xsolla is a global commerce company with robust tools and services to help developers solve the inherent challenges of the video game industry. From indie to AAA, companies partner with ...

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Entry Level Indie Game Developer information

See salary details

$32.5K

$108.5K

$180K

How much do entry level indie game developer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level indie game developer in the United States is $108,471.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $124,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Indie Game Developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Indie Game Developer, you need a solid grasp of programming fundamentals (often in languages like C# or C++), basic game design principles, and a relevant degree or portfolio showcasing your work. Familiarity with game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine and version control systems like Git is typically expected. Creativity, problem-solving ability, and strong teamwork skills help you contribute to small, collaborative teams and adapt to evolving project requirements. These competencies ensure you can effectively build, iterate, and launch engaging indie games in a competitive industry.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level indie game developers, and how can they be overcome?

Entry level indie game developers often face challenges such as limited resources, tight budgets, and wearing multiple hats within small teams. Balancing creative ambitions with practical constraints can be difficult, especially when managing time between programming, art, sound, and marketing tasks. Effective communication and collaboration with team members, utilizing accessible development tools, and participating in online communities can help overcome these hurdles. Learning to scope projects realistically and seeking feedback early in the process are also essential strategies for success.

What is the difference between Entry Level Indie Game Developer vs Junior Game Programmer?

AspectEntry Level Indie Game DeveloperJunior Game Programmer
Required SkillsBasic programming, game design, creativityProgramming languages, debugging, software tools
Work EnvironmentIndependent projects, small teams, startupsGame studios, development teams, collaborative settings
Industry UsageIndie game development, small studiosGame development companies, larger studios

Both roles often require foundational programming skills and a passion for gaming. An Entry Level Indie Game Developer typically works on personal or small team projects, focusing on creativity and design, while a Junior Game Programmer is more involved in coding, debugging, and technical implementation within a professional studio environment. The roles overlap in skills but differ mainly in scope and work setting.

What are entry level indie game developers?

Entry level indie game developers are individuals who are new to game development and work within small, independent teams or as solo creators to produce video games. They typically handle a range of tasks, such as programming, designing, art creation, and testing, often learning on the job and wearing multiple hats. Their focus is usually on creative projects with limited budgets, aiming to break into the gaming industry or build a portfolio. Entry level indie developers may release their games on platforms like Steam, itch.io, or mobile app stores. The role is well-suited for those passionate about games, creativity, and self-driven learning.
More about Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs
What cities are hiring for Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs? Cities with the most Entry Level Indie Game Developer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Indie Game Developer jobs? The most popular types of Indie Game Developer jobs are:
What states have the most Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs? States with the most job openings for Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Entry Level Indie Game Developer jobs are:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Indie Game Developer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 3% As Needed, 12% Full Time, 81% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $108,471 per year, or $52.1 per hour.
Machine Learning Engineer, User Understanding (Entry-Level / New Grad)

Machine Learning Engineer, User Understanding (Entry-Level / New Grad)

Unity Technologies

Mountain View, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday


Job description

The opportunity
Our Gamer AI team develops conversion rate prediction and market price models that power our ad ranking and recommendation systems. By leveraging large-scale data and contextual signals, we continuously enhance prediction relevance and accuracy. This drives outcomes such as higher user engagement, stronger conversion performance, and better return on ad spend, helping advertisers achieve their goals while delivering a more engaging experience for users.
We are seeking a motivated Machine Learning Engineer to support the development and maintenance of systems for understanding user behavior across applications. You will contribute to improving ad ranking, conversion predictions, and recommendation systems, working alongside experienced engineers to build behavioral models and optimize ad performance.
What you'll be doing
  • Design, implement, and optimize user behavior models that directly influence ad ranking, bidding, and conversion outcomes across billions of impressions.
  • Monitor model performance and help identify data quality issues or model degradation.
  • Write clean, maintainable code and participate in code reviews to improve your craft.
  • Learn and communicate how our models work to cross-functional partners.

What we're looking for
  • BS in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, or related field.
  • Strong foundation in Python or similar programming languages.
  • Familiarity with machine learning fundamentals and statistical analysis.
  • Curiosity about how ads, recommendations, and user behavior work at scale.
  • Hungry to grow through rapid iteration, experimenting with real signals and learning what works at scale.

You might also have
  • First experience, publications, or academic projects in the ads domain or recommendation systems.
  • Exposure to experimentation and A/B testing frameworks.
  • Experience using AI tools like Claude Code or GitHub Copilot to learn and build faster.

Additional information
  • Relocation support is not available for this position
  • Work visa/immigration sponsorship is not available for this position

Benefits
At Unity, we want our team members to thrive. We offer a wide range of benefits designed to support well-being and work-life balance.
Please note: Benefits eligibility, specific offerings, and coverage vary based on the country and employment status.
While specific benefits vary, here are some of the ways we strive to take care of our eligible team members globally: Comprehensive health, life, and disability insurance | Commute subsidy | Employee stock ownership | Competitive retirement/pension plans | Generous vacation and personal days | Support for new parents through leave and family-care programs | Office food snacks | Mental Health and Wellbeing programs and support | Employee Resource Groups | Global Employee Assistance Program | Training and development programs | Volunteering and donation matching program
Life at Unity
Unity [NYSE: U] is the world's leading game engine, powering play for more than 3 billion consumers each month. The top mobile games in the world, the most played PC indie titles, the most innovative console games, and virtually all of the top XR and Web Games are developed, deployed, and grown in Unity. Unity also enables teams across industries like automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare to design, simulate, and collaborate in 3D - closing the gap between ideas and reality. For more information, please visit www.unity.com.
Unity is a proud equal opportunity employer. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, innovative environment and celebrate our employees across age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our differences are strengths that enable us to support the growing and evolving needs of our customers, partners, and collaborators. If you have a disability that means there are preparations or accommodations we can make to help ensure you have a comfortable and positive interview experience, please fill out this form to let us know.
This position requires the incumbent to have a sufficient knowledge of English to have professional verbal and written exchanges in this language since the performance of the duties related to this position requires frequent and regular communication with colleagues and partners located worldwide and whose common language is English.
Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. Unity does not accept unsolicited headhunter and agency resumes. Unity will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Unity.
Your privacy is important to us. Please take a moment to review our Prospect Privacy Policy and Applicant Privacy Policy. Should you have any concerns about your privacy, please contact us at DPO@unity.com.
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*Note: This range reflects the anticipated base salary for this position. Beyond base salary, this role may be eligible for equity awards and participation in our company incentive plans (such as annual discretionary bonuses or sales commissions). The final offer amount will depend on several factors, including geographic location and the candidate's relevant experience, professional background, and skill set.
Gross pay salary
$100,800-$155,980 USD