Game Designer.
Billings.
$73,000
median salary, 11% below the national average
$55,000 to $100,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Billings is 11% cheaper than the national average. For Game Designers, that shakes out to a median of $73,000, with the full range spanning $55,000 to $100,000. Experience with shipped titles, specialization in systems design or narrative design, and proficiency with game engines like Unity or Unreal drive pay variance. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $66,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$47,000
to $58,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$62,000
to $77,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$80,000
to $95,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$91,000
to $113,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $16,000 to the total package.
Base
$73,000
Equity
$9,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $89,000
How Billings compares
Billings, MT
$73,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$82,000
Billings is $9,000 below
Game Designer salary by city
Salary by role in Billings
What you should know
The Game Designer landscape in Billings is not what most salary sites will tell you. Billings is Montana's largest city and economic hub, driven by energy, agriculture, and healthcare. The city serves as a regional center for the Northern Plains. Remote work has brought a wave of tech professionals seeking Montana's quality of life, gradually diversifying the local job market. Experience with shipped titles, specialization in systems design or narrative design, and proficiency with game engines like Unity or Unreal drive pay variance. Designers at AAA studios or successful live-service games earn significantly more than those at indie studios or serious games companies.
Junior Game Designers start at $62,000 to $72,000. Mid-level designers with shipped titles earn $78,000 to $95,000. Senior and Lead Game Designers reach $100,000 to $130,000, while Creative Directors at major studios command $140,000 to $200,000 in total compensation. In Billings, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 11% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Profit-sharing or royalty arrangements on successful titles can add $10,000 to $50,000 or more. AAA studios offer bonuses of 10 to 20% tied to Metacritic scores or sales targets. Crunch compensation policies vary widely. And on the tax side: montana has a top income tax rate of 5.9% but no state sales tax. Billings has no city income tax. The no sales tax benefit helps offset the state income tax. When someone quotes you $73,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Negotiate remote work arrangements. Billings employers are increasingly open to remote and hybrid setups to attract talent from larger metros. The range for Game Designers in Billings runs from $55,000 to $100,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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