Salaries in GameDev
Helping studios build teams and processes
- from hiring to systemic solutions that actually work.
- from hiring to systemic solutions that actually work.
About the Report
GameDev Salary Report
An offer that was competitive a year ago can be below market today - the industry moves fast, and studio salary bands don't always keep up.
We update our salary analytics across eight studio functions and five grade levels - from entry-level specialist to head of department. The ranges aren't built on averaged figures from public rankings, but on the intersection of three perspectives: what studios are currently offering, what candidates want, and how the people who work with hiring in the industry every day assess it.
This combination keeps the range from skewing in either direction - not toward the employer, and not toward the candidate.
We update our salary analytics across eight studio functions and five grade levels - from entry-level specialist to head of department. The ranges aren't built on averaged figures from public rankings, but on the intersection of three perspectives: what studios are currently offering, what candidates want, and how the people who work with hiring in the industry every day assess it.
This combination keeps the range from skewing in either direction - not toward the employer, and not toward the candidate.
Locations: Russia, Armenia, Cyprus, Serbia - adjusted for differences in cost of living between countries.
Methodology
How the Ranges Are Built
Market
Data
Data
We look at four sources at once: which positions are currently open, what compensation candidates expect based on their resumes, what we've gathered through a year of recruiting practice, and what people inside the industry tell us - we're in regular contact with them. Each role gets a preliminary grade at this stage.
Expert
Review
Review
A group of industry specialists cross-checks each role's grade against four parameters: scope of responsibility, task complexity, depth of expertise, and experience requirements. This keeps the range from depending on one person's opinion and makes it comparable across functions.
Range Calculation
All values are converted to a single format (gross), outliers are removed from the sample, and the current year is compared against the previous one. The result is a range that reflects the current market, the accumulated history, and expert judgment.
Adjusting for Location
The base calculation is in rubles, for the Russian market. For hiring in Armenia, Cyprus, or Serbia, the range is adjusted for the difference in cost of living: we compare a typical basket of a specialist's expenses - rent, food, transport, communications - in the specific city versus Moscow.
An offer in another country stays tied to the same market range, just adjusted for local prices.
Grades
Five Levels
| Grade | Level |
|---|---|
| 1 | Junior |
| 2 | Middle |
| 3 | Senior |
| 4 | Lead |
| 5 | Top |
The level isn't defined by tenure, but by actual scope of responsibility: how complex the tasks a specialist handles are, how deep their expertise is, and what's expected of them without outside help.
The scale is the same across all functions - Art, Engineering, QA, Production, and so on - so roles from different studios and disciplines can be compared directly.
Pricing
How to Get the Report
Not everyone needs full coverage - a small studio may just need to check a handful of key roles, while a large one may need to review ranges across the entire structure. That's why we offer the report as three packages, sized for different team scales.
Basic
5 Roles
For small studios - check a couple of critical positions against the market
1 500 €
Extended
10 Roles
For mid-sized studios - coverage across core functions
2 500 €
Full
All Roles
21 key studio roles for reviewing ranges across the entire headcount
5 000 €
Get the Report
If you need a custom set of roles - say, you're preparing an offer for a specific project or expanding one function - we'll put together a selection tailored to your request instead of the full package.
Leave your contact details - we'll pick the right package and send you the current version of the report.
Leave your contact details - we'll pick the right package and send you the current version of the report.
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