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Game Development Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Ames, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Video Game Design Tutor

Iowa City, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Skilled at teaching game concept development, engine-based implementation, and iterative design refinement. Guides students through designing game mechanics documents, building levels in game engines ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Iowa City, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain polygon modeling workflows, procedural texturing, and compositing while preparing students for 3D art, game development, animation, and visual effects careers. * Conceptual ...

Varsity Tutors

Blender Tutor

Ames, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain polygon modeling workflows, procedural texturing, and compositing while preparing students for 3D art, game development, animation, and visual effects careers. * Conceptual ...

TekWissen

Senior Software Engineer

Cedar Falls, IA

$113K - $150K/yr

Web Development Location : Cedar Falls, IA Duration : 6months Job Summary: Essential Job Functions: Design, implement, and maintain client side and server side code for web based games Work on client ...

Boyd Gaming

Player Development Manager

Northwood, IA

Company Description Boyd Gaming Corporation has been successful in gaming jurisdiction in which we ... Responsible for assisting in the creation of player development programs that acquire and maintain ...

Boyd Gaming

Player Development Manager

Northwood, IA · On-site

Company Description Boyd Gaming Corporation has been successful in gaming jurisdiction in which we ... Responsible for assisting in the creation of player development programs that acquire and maintain ...

SciPlay

Vice President, Monetization

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

Shared Playbook Development: Build and maintain a monetization playbook and shared library of proven strategies, templates, and frameworks available to all game teams. * Talent Development: Mentor ...

SciPlay

Director of Monetization

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Game Development, or a related field. * 7+ years of experience in monetization, live operations, or product management in the gaming industry ...

SciPlay

Director of Monetization

Cedar Falls, IA · On-site

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Marketing, Business, Game Development, or a related field. * 7+ years of experience in monetization, live operations, or product management in the gaming industry ...

Varsity Tutors

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Iowa City, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Emphasizes production pipeline understanding and connects 3DS Max skills to architectural visualization, film VFX, and game development. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive Instruction: Familiar with ...

Varsity Tutors

Autodesk 3DS Max Tutor

Ames, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Emphasizes production pipeline understanding and connects 3DS Max skills to architectural visualization, film VFX, and game development. * Curriculum Awareness & Adaptive Instruction: Familiar with ...

Varsity Tutors

C++ Tutor

Ames, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain dynamic memory allocation, virtual functions, operator overloading, and smart pointers while preparing students for systems programming, game development, and computer science ...

Varsity Tutors

C++ Tutor

Iowa City, IA · Remote

$40/hr

Ability to explain dynamic memory allocation, virtual functions, operator overloading, and smart pointers while preparing students for systems programming, game development, and computer science ...

Winnavegas Casino Resort

Table Games Dealer

Sloan, IA

$8.57 - $11.64/hr

Training & development * Vision insurance * Wellness resources JOB SUMMARY: To provide courteous and efficient table games service to guests in accordance with company standards and shall operate ...

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All JobsGame Development JobsGame Development Jobs in Iowa

Game Development information

See Iowa salary details

$30.5K

$101.9K

$169.1K

How much do game development jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for game development in Iowa is $101,883.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,600.00 and $116,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is game development?

Game development is the process of creating video games, encompassing everything from concept and design to programming, art, sound, testing, and release. It often involves a team of professionals with different skills, such as game designers, programmers, artists, writers, and testers. The process may use game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine to build the game's mechanics, graphics, and overall experience. Game development can be done by large studios or individual indie developers, and projects can range from simple mobile games to complex, multi-platform titles.

How much money do game devs make?

Game developers' salaries vary based on experience, location, and company size, but the median annual salary in the industry typically ranges from $60,000 to $120,000. Entry-level positions often start around $50,000, while experienced developers or those in senior roles can earn over $100,000. Skills in programming, design, and familiarity with tools like Unity or Unreal Engine can influence earning potential.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in game development teams?

Game development often involves tight deadlines, rapidly changing project requirements, and the need to balance creative vision with technical constraints. Team members regularly collaborate across disciplines—such as programming, design, art, and sound—which can lead to communication challenges and the need for strong teamwork skills. Additionally, adapting to new technologies and tools is essential, as the industry evolves quickly, requiring continuous learning and flexibility.

Is AI replacing game devs?

AI is increasingly used in game development to assist with tasks such as procedural content generation, testing, and animation, but it does not replace game developers. Developers are needed to design, program, and oversee AI tools, ensuring creative and technical quality. The role of game devs continues to evolve alongside advancements in AI technology.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in Game Development, and why are they important?

To thrive in Game Development, you need strong programming skills (commonly in C++, C#, or Java), a solid understanding of computer graphics, and often a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine, as well as version control systems such as Git, is typically required. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective teamwork are essential soft skills that help in designing engaging gameplay and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These skills and qualifications are crucial for creating technically sound, innovative, and commercially successful games.

What is the difference between Game Development vs Game Design?

AspectGame DevelopmentGame Design
Primary FocusProgramming, coding, and technical implementation of gamesConcept creation, story, and gameplay mechanics
Required SkillsProgramming languages, software engineering, problem-solvingCreativity, storytelling, user experience design
Work EnvironmentDevelopment teams, coding labs, software studiosDesign studios, creative teams, collaborative workshops
Common CertificationsComputer Science, Software Engineering, Programming coursesGame Design degrees, Creative Arts, Storytelling courses

Game Development involves the technical creation and programming of games, focusing on coding and software engineering. Game Design centers on crafting game concepts, storylines, and gameplay mechanics. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and educational backgrounds, making them distinct yet interconnected careers in the gaming industry.

Is 30 too old to start game development?

Game development is a field open to individuals of all ages, and starting at 30 is common among many successful developers. Skills in programming, design, and familiarity with tools like Unity or Unreal Engine are more important than age, and many professionals transition into game development later in life.

What jobs are there in game development?

In game development, common roles include game designer, programmer, artist, animator, sound designer, and quality assurance tester. These positions require skills in programming languages, graphic design, storytelling, and familiarity with development tools like Unity or Unreal Engine.
What are the most commonly searched types of Game Development jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Game Development jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Game Development jobs in Iowa? For Game Development jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Game Development jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Game Development jobs in Iowa are:
Game Development jobs near you

Game Development / Environment Artist - Iowa, US (Freelance - Remote)

Prolific Academic Ltd

Iowa City, IA • Remote

$15 - $30/hr

Full-time

Posted 23 days ago

Be an early applicant

Job description

Game Development / Environment Artist - AI Training (Freelance - Remote)
About Prolific

Prolific is not just another player in the AI space – we are building the biggest pool of quality human data in the world.

Over 35,000 AI developers, researchers, and organizations use Prolific to gather data from paid study participants with a wide variety of experiences, knowledge, and skills.

The Opportunity

We are inviting 3D Artists and VFX experts with experience creating computer generated scenes and assets to join our global network for a high level gaming project. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to improving AI systems for video generation and to impact how AI models understand the logic of the physical world.

Rather than traditional VFX work, we are offering an opportunity to licence existing 'on-the-shelf' works from your archives, plus hourly compensation ($15-30/h) for technical processing.

What You Will Be Doing
  • Asset licencing: Licence existing works from your personal/ studio archives for a flat fee
  • Technical processing including rendering, layering, and preparing these files to our data specifications
  • In some cases, making variations to scenes and re-rendering
What You'll Bring
  • Experience as a 3D, Technical or VFX Artist or Compositor in games, film or digital production
  • Experience with Unreal Engine, Unity & Houdini, Maya / Blender / Cinema4D and similar
  • Expertise in rendering, lighting and texturing
  • Comfortable using technical workflows and tools
  • Existing assets for licensing, with scenes separated into coherent, compositable layers
Why join this project?

This is an opportunity to licence your existing assets and to apply your expertise in VFX design on a flexible, ad hoc basis, in order to help improve AI systems for video generation with better controllability for creators.

Please note that you must be new to Prolific to sign up successfully. If you already have a Prolific account, there is no need to register again; simply ensure your profile is up to date to be eligible for opportunities.

Why Prolific is a great platform to join as an expert participant

Joining our platform as a participant will give you the chance to influence the AI models of the future. Once you pass our assessment, you can join Prolific in just 15 minutes and start enjoying competitive pay rates, flexible hours, and the ability to work from home.

We've built a unique platform that connects researchers and companies with a global pool of participants, enabling the collection of high-quality, ethically sourced human behavioral data and feedback. This data is the cornerstone of developing more accurate, nuanced, and aligned AI systems.

We believe that the next leap in AI capabilities won't come solely from scaling existing models, but from integrating diverse human perspectives and behaviors into AI development. By providing this crucial human data infrastructure, Prolific is positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of AI innovation – one that reflects the breadth and the best of humanity.

Links to more information on Prolific

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Privacy Statement

By submitting your application, you agree that Prolific may collect your personal data for recruiting and global organization planning. Prolific's Candidate Privacy Notice explains what personal information Prolific may process, where Prolific may process your personal information, its purposes for processing your personal information, and the rights you can exercise over Prolific's use of your personal information.