Audio Programmer Salary (2026)
The median audio programmer in the games industry earns $144,810 per year with 6–10 years of experience (global, base salary in USD), with most offers falling between $116k and $181k.
Figures are based on 2+ anonymous community salary reports and public industry surveys, resolved per experience band. Rows marked model estimate have no direct survey data yet — submit your salary to improve them. See the methodology for how numbers are computed.
Salary by experience (global)
| Experience | Low | Median | High | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–2 years | $23,825 | $29,783 | $37,228 | Industry report |
| 3–5 years | $73,293 | $98,450 | $123,607 | Community datan=2 |
| 6–10 years | $115,848 | $144,810 | $181,013 | Industry reportn=32 |
| 11–15 years | $68,125 | $151,326 | $184,618 | Industry report |
| 16+ years | $120,000 | $150,000 | $180,000 | Model estimate |
Salary by region
Median base salary (USD) for the best-covered experience band per region — bands differ where coverage differs. US buying power converts that figure to what it buys locally (World Bank 2023 price levels, see methodology).
| Region | Median | Experience | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America | $147,840 | 6–10 years | Industry reportn=32 |
| Rest of World | $96,651 | 3–5 years | Industry report |
| Asia Pacific | $50,095 | 3–5 years | Industry report |
| United Kingdom · Western Europe · Nordic Countries · Eastern Europe | $47,865 | 6–10 years | Industry report |
Open audio programmer jobs
Recent listings from games-industry job boards:
Sources used on this page
- Community data — public community salary datasets, individual reports shared with us, and anonymous submissions on this site (2018–2026).
- 8Bit Gamedev Salary Pulse 2026 — Games-industry recruitment agency salary report. Cited with permission.
- GDC State of the Game Industry 2025 — Annual survey by Game Developers Conference / Informa.
- Skillsearch Games & Immersive Salary and Satisfaction Report 2026 — Annual survey by games recruitment agency Skillsearch. Cited with permission.