"competive salary?"

#1

i have been working in the game industry for 2 years now, i started out with very little 3d experience and am now the lead character designer/modeller/animator of the company.

Question is…what is considered a “competitive salary” for 3d game artists?

I started out with 2,ooo euro (2,300 dollars) a month here in Austria…and i would like to know what other people are getting based on their experience. I know location influences what u earn…so tell me the locations as well.

I feel i have increased my value considerably since i started…along with getting married and having a kid…and am just wanting to work up the courage to earn more.

so what r all of u earning as game artists?

#2

get an account on www.gamasutra.com
they have a salary survey that i believe covers the USA only.

As far as people posting their salaries on this board, I’d be surprised if you get any responses. Maybe if you made a poll so that it could be more anonymous, then people would participate.

Just being a lead artist doesnt mean much. Depends on what your company is doing and how successful your games are. I’ve seen plenty of guys call themselves “senior artists” that would barely be considered entry level at some places… if you really want to know what you are worth then you need to apply to some new places and get some offers. if you’re not willing to do that, and not willing to leave to seek greener pastures, then why should your employer pay you more? granted it would be nice of them, but it is a competitive market and if you can’t make a change then they have little incentive to raise your pay.

now if i were in charge i’d make sure my people were happy with their situation, because happy employees make better work… but not everyone thinks that way, especially in companies that are hanging on by a thread.

#3

Doesnt have to reflect what people are peronally earning…ballpark figures by region is what i am wondering.

I thought of doing a poll but what people earn in the US vs Eastern Europe is considerably different. Things can change even between cities…

In Austria there are only 3 or 4 game developers in the entire country so if you work for one company you end up knowing everyone else very quickly, which makes job hopping much more risky then say in the US where there are many more oppurtunities even if you do have to change cities.

#4

also…the $58,000 salary (5,000 a month) from Gamasutra is something that i would never get at my current company when they think 1/3 of that is competitive.

#5

well i understand what you’re saying about the salary range being very dependent on your location… or is it? maybe it’s more dependent on WHO you work for rather than where YOU are. if you think that you’d do well with a foreign company, maybe you should consider trying to work remotely for them. you may find that is your best and most convenient path to a better paycheck.

given that you’re not making very much right now, you might be able to undercut the competition in another country by offering your services. i know of one company in particular that keeps a group of russian artists on hand (remotely) to deal with big art tasks that arise too quickly to staff up locally. im sure they pay those guys a fraction of what American talent would expect.

i find it disheartening that it is so necessary to move to where the work is in our business. family and friends are extremely important and it is a shame that we are often forced to give them up to seek a good job in the game industry. if you can find a way to work for a new company without moving, i’d say you’ve really hit the jackpot. otherwise, it doesnt sound like your current company is really interested in making you happy.

#6

i have been asking around…a Senior artist at another company(Rockstar Games) in the same city (Vienna, austria) is making the same as i…so it appears that my salary is completely normal for the location.

Its all to true that Eastern Europe gets paid less, even when they are just as talented as the Americans and Europeans. It is a powerful bargianing chip when the Game Developer is a third of the price as their American competition.

I am still dreaming of the day when i can do freelance work from home…getting jobs from america would be awesome. From my experience though, most game developers prefer in house…looks better for the company and is proven to be better communication.

#7

Nice to hear both your thoughts on this, thanks for sharing.

I got a decent increase in my salary a few years ago. First I proved myself valuable to the company by leading projects that did well, both in client-satisfaction and in the bottom line. I guess it should go without saying that it’s important to set the stage, show your employer how valuable you are.

Then one day I followed up on a call from a recruiter, interviewed and everything, got a salary quote from them, then turned around and gambled that information with my employer, told them I was seriously considering this job offer, which I was. They made me a deal to stay, close to what the other company was offering.

I preferred my current duties, and the people, and the commute, etc. So I stayed. Worked out well for me.

But it was a gamble. I think it’s imperative that you know ahead of time what your limit is going to be, before sticking your neck out. I would have left if they didn’t meet me at least halfway.

#8

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