For those working as game developers, salaries have been in a pinch for the last years. The average salary for a developer knew a year-on-year drop of 2% in 2013, according to the latest Game Developer Salary Survey. Gamasutra’s research indicated that professionals working in audio made more money than all other disciplines, with professionals making an annual average of $95,682.

Programmers were following closely behind with an average of $93,251. For producers the average already dropped down to $82,286. Artists and animators earned $74,349. Game designers made $73,864 and quality assurance staff averaged $54,833.

The survey, based on information gathered from 4,000 responses worldwide between January and December 2013, indicated that the average salary of indie studio teams increased with 161%, but that there was a 49% drop for solo indie developers.

In our own region Flanders DC and Antwerp Management School calculated that in 2009 the average income for an independent game developer stood at €56,775. Wage costs remain one of the biggest obstacles for game companies in Belgium. Our costs are 16% higher than in The Netherlands and a mindblowing 22% higher than in Germany! In all our talks with government officials, FLEGA reiterates this issue.