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agent44 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2000 3:23 pm

I met with a Game developer today and showed them my portfolio. I think it was well recieved. They asked me about how much I expected for pay and I had no idea what to tell them. I've never worked in the gaming industry before. What is the average yearly pay of a conceptual artist in the gaming industry? The exact position I was interveiwed for was background designer. I should be hearing back from them at the end of the week when they get word from there head office in Korea. If you have any informaton for me it would be very helpful.

WacoMonkey · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2000 4:05 pm

Hmm... Depends, of course, on experience, etc... Game companies don't pay as high as film industry, for example, but they tend to be benefitted in-house positions with at least the expectation of job security. If you are straight out of school and raw, 35-40K is reasonable. If you're really kick-ass, ask for more. If you have professional work experience and a strong portfolio, you probably don't want to ask for less than mid-40's. Senior level positions (i.e. you'll be the Art Director or only designer) 50's plus. I've heard everything shy of six figures for top positions in big companies *sigh*...
Add 25% for L.A., 50% for San Fran...cost of living, ya know...

Good luck!

agent44 · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2000 4:38 pm

WacoMonkey- thanks for the info. That'll help me out a lot.

Oh yeah, I checked out your webpage, I really like your work.

Jason Manley · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2000 8:19 pm

dont take less than 40-50k if you have very very good traditional skills. If you can only draw then you might get less...painting and composition and storyboarding and layout and ad design and promo work capabilities and other art skills are worth more money..especially the painting skills as you will be able to texture well too.

The earlier post about 35-40k for no experience and or very little schooling is a moderately high amount unless you have an unreal amount of raw talent...that is worth cash too.

: )

there are lots of untrained artists that would work for less. The industry knows that. It is the talent and the training that is hard to find.

jason

agent44 · Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2000 9:47 am

Jason, Waco, thanks for both your insight. I got the job! We both settled for 42,000k. I am really looking forward to starting. I have 2 weeks left doing the souless drudgery of web design. Again, thanks.

WacoMonkey · Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2000 10:27 am

Sounds like you did good... Congrats! Post your website so we can see your work.