Design the gameplay, levels, mechanics, and systems that make video games fun. One of the most sought-after creative roles in the games industry. Median salary in Abilene: $74K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Abilene, Texas. Reviewed by SalaryOptics Editorial · How we calculate this →
Analysis derived from the salary, COL, tax, and labor-market figures above — specific to this role and city.
Video Game Designers in Abilene earn approximately 10% lower than the US national median for this role — a $8,000 discount on annual base salary. Abilene's lower wage level partially reflects the area's cost-of-living index of 78 (US avg = 100).
Adjusted for Abilene's cost-of-living index (78), the median Video Game Designer salary buys the equivalent of $94,872 in a US-average-cost city. That's $12,872 more purchasing power than the national median — a meaningful real-wage advantage.
Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $6,882 per year at this salary level compared to a California Video Game Designer on the same gross pay. A Abilene Video Game Designer would need to earn $81,588 in California to net the same take-home.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $74K by 2030.
Enter your email for free access. We'll send salary market updates — unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
The median Video Game Designer salary in Abilene, TX is $74,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Abilene–TX metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.
Entry-level Video Game Designers in Abilene with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $52,000 and $74,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $74,000 to $100,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $100,000 to $136,000 or more.
Abilene has a cost of living index of 78 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 22% further in Abilene than the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax — giving Abilene-based Video Game Designers an immediate 5–7% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).
Bachelor's in Game Design or CS; strong portfolio. This role is 60% remote-eligible nationally, which can significantly expand the job market for Abilene-based professionals.