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Game Programming And Development Salary Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Valicy

Game Developer

Greenville, NC

NC Game Development Reports To: Game Development Manager Status: Exempt WHO WE ARE: We are Valicy ... programming skills with an emphasis on clean, maintainable, and performant code -Solid ...

Valicy

Game Developer

Wilmington, NC

NC Game Development Reports To: Game Development Manager Status: Exempt WHO WE ARE: We are Valicy ... programming skills with an emphasis on clean, maintainable, and performant code -Solid ...

Stardock Corporation

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI

$120K - $160K/yr

This is a salaried, full-time position at our Plymouth, Michigan office and relocation assistance ... Education and/or Experience Desired: * 7+ years of experience in game or simulation development.

Stardock Corporation

Senior Game Developer

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

This is a salaried, full-time position at our Plymouth, Michigan office and relocation assistance ... Education and/or Experience Desired: * 7+ years of experience in game or simulation development.

Tencent

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$147K - $343K/yr

S.-based, AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA is focused on building open ... game programming experience * Experience managing direct reports * Experience performing in a ...

LightSpeed Studios

Lead Gameplay Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site +1

$147K - $343K/yr

S.-based, AAA game development studio for Tencent Games. Lightspeed LA is focused on building open ... game programming experience * Experience managing direct reports * Experience performing in a ...

Spellbrush

Game Programmer (Unity)

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You deeply understand Unity We're looking for someone with 5+ years of programming experience and a ... Unity development. You're comfortable working on small, fast-paced teams Working here will feel ...

DSN

Sr. Game Developer - casino games

Boca Raton, FL · On-site

Job Title: Game Developer - Casino Gaming Location: Boca Raton, FL or Las Vegas, NV (Onsite ... This is a full-stack development role involving real-world performance demands and live player ...

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Game Programming And Development Salary information

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How much do game programming and development salary jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for game programming and development salary in the United States is $92,636.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $24,000.00 and $145,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How much money do game programmers make?

Game programmers typically earn a median annual salary ranging from $60,000 to $100,000, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced developers working on advanced game engines or with specialized skills can earn higher salaries. Knowledge of programming languages like C++ and experience with game development tools can influence earning potential.

Is 30 too old to get into game dev?

Game programming and development is a field open to individuals of all ages, and many successful developers start or transition into the industry later in life. Skills such as programming, understanding game engines, and a strong portfolio are more important than age, and continuous learning can help overcome any age-related concerns.

Can I make 100k as a software developer?

Game programming and development salaries can reach or exceed $100,000 annually, especially with experience, specialized skills, and working in high-demand markets. Entry-level positions typically start lower, but senior roles, those with expertise in graphics, AI, or game engines, and positions in larger companies often offer six-figure compensation.

How much does an AAA game designer make?

An AAA game designer typically earns between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the company's size. Senior designers or those with specialized skills can earn higher salaries, especially at major studios working on high-profile projects.

What is the difference between Game Programming And Development Salary vs Game Design Salary?

AspectGame Programming And DevelopmentGame Design
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science, Programming skillsBachelor's in Game Design, Creativity skills
Work EnvironmentDeveloping code, software toolsConcept creation, storyboarding
Employer & Industry UsageGame studios, tech companiesGame studios, entertainment industry

Game Programming And Development roles focus on coding and technical implementation, often requiring programming certifications and technical degrees. Game Design positions emphasize creativity and storytelling, typically requiring design portfolios and artistic skills. Salaries vary based on experience, location, and company size, but generally, programmers tend to earn slightly higher due to technical expertise.

More about Game Programming And Development Salary jobs
What cities are hiring for Game Programming And Development Salary jobs? Cities with the most Game Programming And Development Salary job openings:
What states have the most Game Programming And Development Salary jobs? States with the most job openings for Game Programming And Development Salary jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Game Programming And Development Salary jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Game Programming And Development Salary jobs are:
Game Programming And Development Salary jobs near you
Infographic showing various Game Programming And Development Salary job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 99% Full Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $92,636 per year, or $44.5 per hour.

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)

Seismic Squirrel

Issaquah, WA • On-site, Remote

$62 - $75/hr

Contractor

Posted 18 days ago

Job description

Senior Unity Game Engineer (Remote)
Seismic Squirrel LLC
Job Title: Senior Unity Game Engineer
Our Games: Narrative-centric RPG videogames set in an alternate history 1930s New York.
Role: Unity programming and game architecture, Engineering leadership.
Experience: Senior Level, 8+ years of professional Unity videogame engineering experience
developing for PC / console. Must have successfully shipped game titles in the senior
engineering role.
Location: USA or Canada (Remote) - Must reside within the UTC-4 to UTC-8 timezones.
Company Size: 20
Pay: $62 - $75 USD per hour - Depends on skills and experience.
Job Type: Contractor or Contract-to-Hire (see below)
Overview
We are looking for a creative and resourceful Senior Gameplay Engineer with effective leadership skills, a clear understanding of Unity programming, experience developing combat AI systems, a logical and systemic thinker, with an iterative approach to development, a collaborative spirit, excellent communication skills, and an enthusiasm for RPG and turn-based videogames. The ideal candidate enjoys working with talented engineers, designers, writers, artists, and management, with a drive to create a fun and cohesive gameplay experience, able to empathize with both new players and with experts of the genre.
The ideal candidate communicates effectively in a small cross-functional remote team environment, clearly presenting their ideas to stakeholders for signoff. They bring a passion for working within an iterative development environment, having a collaborative spirit and an enthusiasm for videogames.
This is a remote position which requires regular collaboration online during our core work hours (9:30 AM - 5:30 PM Pacific), attending relevant team meetings (e.g. daily scrum, retrospectives, sprint planning, and design meetings). Occasional evening calls should be expected for collaboration with overseas vendors. The option to convert to full-time employee may be available to ideal candidates, depending on their location, skills, fit, project needs and schedule, and funding. H-1B transfers and sponsorships are not available at this time.
Quests
  • Design, implement, and improve...
    • Narrative: Integration with authoring, dialog, localization, and voiceover tools and content.
    • Combat: Vehicle physics, damage states, targeting, firing arcs, line of sight, area of effect.
    • Maps and Scenes: Travel, POI availability and interactions, encounters.
    • Backend: Save file system, achievements, DLC support.
    • Tools: Level design, unit and stats configuration, map editor, narrative editor.[
  • Lead engineering efforts, mentoring, effectively coordinating and delegating engineering duties.
  • Prototype new gameplay ideas and mechanics.
  • Creatively apply engineering best practices to implement architecture and programming for our games.
  • Own and support our DevOps pipelines utilizing tools including Unity Cloud Build and Bitbucket.
  • Identify and modify existing frameworks according to our project needs, building some game frameworks and subsystems from scratch as needed.
  • Engage in all aspects of game programming: Systems, UI / UX, APIs, internationalization and localization, optimization, and instrumentation.
  • Expand games from PC to console platforms.
  • Troubleshoot code and fix bugs.
  • Mentor junior programmers.
  • Educate and explain programming concerns to the rest of the Development Team.
  • Work with the Design Team to maintain UX quality throughout the development process.
  • Actively collaborate with the rest of the Development Team, openly communicating progress and problems, helping us set realistic project timelines and expectations.
  • Participate in internal game testing and feedback.
  • Help to create and maintain core technical documentation.
  • Balance and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines, working within agreed timeframes and budgets.

Character Stats
  • 8+ years of experience as a Unity software engineer through the full lifecycle of game development from start to finish:
    concept, design, prototyping, programming, content creation, testing, optimization, launch, support.
  • Strong Unity programming experience, specifically with turn-based combat games for PC / console.
  • Experienced creating and balancing combat AI.
  • Deep understanding of Unity and the performance impact of game architecture.
  • Adept at object-oriented programming and design principles using C# and the .NET platform.
  • Familiar with software engineering best practices, design patterns, and unit testing.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills, resourceful, able to find solutions when needed.
  • Enthusiastic for quality gameplay and a familiarity with many games and genres, past and present.
  • Strong self-discipline, motivated, a self-starter with a drive for excellence.
  • Organized, detail-oriented, able to work fast and loose or carefully with quality when each is needed.
  • Courteous and patient, able to give and receive constructive and inspirational feedback gracefully.
  • Able to work effectively with people having a variety of personalities and backgrounds.
  • Wise leadership skills with high emotional intelligence, a respected mentor across disciplines.
  • Adaptable: The job can change according to the needs at hand and requires wearing various hats.
  • Able to work remotely using various collaboration tools.
  • Strong written, visual, and verbal English language communication and presentation skills.
  • Familiar with design diagramming techniques using UML.
  • Experienced working with professional narrative authoring tools (e.g. Articy, Arcweave, Pixel Crushers).
  • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Visio.
  • Passionate to learn new tools and technologies.

Bonus Points
  • Familiar with Pixel Crushers' Dialogue System for Unity.
  • Familiar with Dark Tonic's Master Audio.
  • Experienced using creative tools (e.g. Adobe Photoshop, Blender, 3ds Max, Figma).
  • Experienced with XML processing, DOM, SAX, XSD, XPath, and XSLT.
  • Located in one of our hub metros: Seattle, Los Angeles, or Edmonton.

The Company
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics.
If this sounds like an exciting opportunity for you, and if you're located and authorized to work in the USA or Canada, please submit both your cover letter and résumé to Seismic Squirrel.
For more information about Seismic Squirrel, go to https://www.SeismicSquirrel.com/

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