What's the most wanted type of developer in the game industry (the one who makes the big bucks)? Do other kinds of programmers (non gamedev) make more or less than the game programmer?

Nobody in the game industry makes big bucks. The executives make the most. Out of programmers, artists, and designers, programmers make the most and designers make the least.

Programmers in the game industry are paid less than in other industries.

Quote: Original post by arithma
What's the most wanted type of developer in the game industry (the one who makes the big bucks)?

Good ones - and the best way to be good is too do what you enjoy most, not what you hope may be in demand.

If the most important thing about your career is how much you are gona make, you are looking at the wrong industry.

Quote: Original post by JohnBolton
Programmers in the game industry are paid less than in other industries.

It varies based on innumerable factors.

Ultimately the amount you earn is the amount you negotiate. Two similarly skilled and experienced developers working side by side can get drastically different pay. Different companies have different pay philosophies, and have different revenue structures. Some places, pay will be less with a big completion bonus (but don't ever count on bonuses). At some, pay will be more with no bonus. Still others will underpay and overwork.

Generally entry level pays a little less than other industries, that is true.

More experienced people can (if they are interview-savvy and choose their company well) make the same as or more than their non-game developer peers with the same years of experience.


And as was mentioned, don't try to choose a career based on the money it pays. Choose a career based on what you enjoy doing.

The April issue of Game Developer Magazine will feature a Salary Survey (ref: GDMag ).

-cb