TIGA shares results of first UK industry salary report
Findings show salary increases last year in line with rest of UK; staff turnover higher than average
TIGA has published the results of its first Game Software Developers' Salary Survey, including findings that the UK games industry has a higher turnover of staff than the UK average.
The survey, which was carried out in conjunction with HR specialists Hewitt Associates, was the most comprehensive on salary and other HR issues ever carried out for the industry, and included input from 10 UK developers - both independent and publisher-owned - covering 16 per cent of the UK total.
Among its key findings was that base salary increases over the last 12 months averaged between 2-3 per cent - a percentage in line with UK general industry increases in the same period.
It found that technical development and programming employees earned the highest salaries at each of the 11 survey 'levels' - from graduate to function head - while quality assurance earned the least.
And it found that just 6.6 per cent of the industry workforce is female, while the average age of employees is between the narrow range of 25 and 39.
The average length of service for an employee is between seven and ten years, and the industry showed a staff turnover that was significantly higher than the UK average of 8 per cent, standing at 13 per cent.
85 per cent of respondents were full time employed, five per cent part time and ten per cent contractors.
"The survey results provide a comprehensive picture of current pay levels across the games software development sector, from graduates up to senior managers, and reflect the demand and supply conditions of the specialist skills required in this sector," commented Steve Munday of Hewitt Associates.
"The survey also provides interesting insights into the workforce structure, that is predominantly male with a relatively narrow age range.
"Interestingly a number of Hewitt's engagement and best employer surveys suggest that organisations with increased employee and skill diversity, can see better overall business results, employee performance and can promote an improved work-life balance."
The full survey, which provides salary information for the industry's key disciplines, is available through TIGA or Hewitt Associates.