2025 Game Industry Salary Report: 64% of Workers Support Game Unionization, 53% Feel Undercompensated
GDC Festival of Gaming has released the 2025 Game Industry Salary Report, revealing that almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents support the unionization of game industry workers, with over half of respondents (56%) saying they are interested in joining a union in the industry.
The report, based on a survey of 562 game industry professionals from July 2025, highlighted that the average salary for US-based game industry professionals in 2025 was around $142,000. 60% said it was at least a slight increase from their 2024 salary. The median salary for the gaming industry is $129,000.
In addition, it revealed that “around 80 of employed respondents said their current salary meets or exceeds their basic needs,” with 53% of respondents feeling “somewhat or significantly undercompensated at their job based on their role, experience, and market conditions.” For contractors, consultants and part-time workers, the number increases to 69%.
The 2025 Game Industry Salary Report revealed that 98% of respondents rate the game industry as “less secure” than others with 29% saying they are unlikely to stay in the industry. When asked, 21% of respondents said that they were unsure on if they would or would not stay working in gaming.
60% of women and non-binary people report feeling undercompensated, compared to 50% of men along with 62% of non-white game workers compared to 50% of those who identify solely as white.
The report has a 3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
