Video Game Designers in New York
Thinking about a career as a Video Game Designers in New York? Here’s what the data says. Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May use web framework applications as well as client-side code and processes. May evaluate web design following web and accessibility standards, and may analyze web use metrics and optimize websites for marketability and search engine ranking. May design and test interfaces that facilitate the human-computer interaction and maximize the usability of digital devices, websites, and software with a focus on aesthetics and design. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links. Excludes “Special Effects Artists and Animators” (27-1014) and “Graphic Designers” (27-1024).
What do Video Game Designers Make in New York?
The video game designers working in New York, the median annual wage is $121,700 per year (or about $58.51/hour).Earnings range from $49,330 at the 10th percentile to $208,850 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,330 | $23.72 |
| 25th percentile | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| Median (50th) | $121,700 | $58.51 |
| 75th percentile | $167,520 | $80.54 |
| 90th percentile | $208,850 | $100.41 |
Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in New York compared to the national average — is 2.15, suggesting that video game designers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, video game designers earn a median of $62,617 per year ($30.10/hour), above the New York median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 202,634 video game designers across the United States. In New York alone, about 14,840 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 830 video game designers.
Top New York Metros for Video Game Designers
The largest metro-area employers of video game designers in New York.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 13,460 | $120,430 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 570 | n/a |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 560 | $97,010 |
| Rochester, NY | 450 | $71,930 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 290 | $95,560 |
| Syracuse, NY | 150 | $74,050 |
| Binghamton, NY | 120 | $136,760 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 50 | $94,980 |
| Ithaca, NY | 40 | $98,130 |
| Kingston, NY | 30 | $46,670 |
Top States for Video Game Designers Employment
The table below shows the states where the most video game designers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 27,210 |
| New York | 14,840 |
| Washington | 7,840 |
| Texas | 7,360 |
| Florida | 4,140 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,080 |
| Tennessee | 3,470 |
| North Carolina | 3,360 |
| Georgia | 3,070 |
| Colorado | 2,740 |
| Virginia | 2,740 |
| Massachusetts | 2,690 |
| New Jersey | 2,450 |
| Illinois | 2,140 |
| Ohio | 1,940 |
| Michigan | 1,800 |
| Minnesota | 1,510 |
| Arizona | 1,430 |
| Indiana | 1,390 |
| Missouri | 1,360 |
Highest-Paying States for Video Game Designers
These states pay the most for video game designers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $130,240 |
| Washington | $126,960 |
| New York | $121,700 |
| Rhode Island | $111,200 |
| Massachusetts | $107,560 |
| Hawaii | $105,560 |
| Colorado | $103,990 |
| Georgia | $100,530 |
| Utah | $99,300 |
| Vermont | $99,160 |
Skills
The most important video game designers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for video game designers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
- Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
- Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
- Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
- Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
- Develop and maintain design level documentation, including mechanics, guidelines, and mission outlines.
- Document all aspects of formal game design, using mock-up screenshots, sample menu layouts, gameplay flowcharts, and other graphical devices.
- Provide feedback to designers and other colleagues regarding game design features.
- Create and manage documentation, production schedules, prototyping goals, and communication plans in collaboration with production staff.
- Provide feedback to production staff regarding technical game qualities or adherence to original design.
- Create gameplay prototypes for presentation to creative and technical staff and management.
- Guide design discussions between development teams.
Work Activities
- Thinking Creatively
- Working with Computers
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Processing Information
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Analyzing Data or Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Developing Objectives and Strategies
Tools & Technology
Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud software, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop In-demand technologies: Adobe Photoshop
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Programs that train for this career include:
- Computer Science
- Computer Information Systems
- Information Science
- Computer Programming
- Computer Software Applications
- Information Technology
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Related Careers
Related occupations to video game designers include:
- Search Marketing Strategists
- Computer and Information Research Scientists
- Computer Programmers
- Software Developers
- Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers
- Web Developers
Also Known As
Computer Game Designer, Computer Video Game Designer, Concept Artist, Content Creator, Design Director, Designer, Environment Artist, Environmental Artist, Game Design Consultant, Game Designer, Game Developer, Game Engineer, Game Master, Game Tester, Gamemaster.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 15-1255.01
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