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 Denton: $83K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.
Figures represent annual base salary in Denton, 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.
Texas has no state income tax, which is worth roughly $7,719 per year at this salary level compared to a California Video Game Designer on the same gross pay. A Denton Video Game Designer would need to earn $91,510 in California to net the same take-home.
This role's national salaries are growing at 6.5% year-over-year, well above the BLS all-occupations average of ~3.5%. If that pace holds, the Denton median reaches $113,717 in five years.
Average 1-bedroom rent in Denton ($1,400/mo) consumes approximately 29% of an after-tax median Video Game Designer salary. Financial planners typically recommend keeping housing under 30% of take-home — a salary at the 75th percentile ($114K) brings that ratio into a more comfortable range here.
Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2026. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $83K by 2030.
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The median Video Game Designer salary in Denton, TX is $83,000 per year as of Q1 2026. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Denton–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 Denton with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $59,000 and $83,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $83,000 to $114,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $114,000 to $154,000 or more.
Denton has a cost of living index of 100 compared to the US national average of 100. Living costs in Denton are close to the national average. Crucially, Texas has no state income tax — giving Denton-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 Denton-based professionals.