The UK games industry saw increases of 3% in base salary over the last 12 months, about 0.5% above UK general industry in the same period, says the 2010/2011 Games Software Developers’ Salary Survey from Aon Hewitt and TIGA, the trade association representing the software development industry.
Median graduate base salaries were up 2% on 2009 and 13% of respondents had a pay freeze in 2010, compared to 33% in 2009.
The survey also provides detailed information on bonuses, cash allowances, annual pay increases and employee turnover, as well as organisational structure and employee demographics including gender, age and length of service.
This year the survey covers employee pensions and benefits for the first time, including both defined benefit (DB) and defined contribution (DC) pensions, private medical insurance, flexible benefits, childcare vouchers, discount schemes, and employee assistance programmes.
Steve Munday, senior reward consultant at Aon Hewitt, said: “This survey has again provided a comprehensive picture of current pay levels in the games software industry, from graduates up to senior managers.
“Like so many others, this sector has had a tough time over the last 18 months, but as the squeeze on costs shifts towards the public sector, there seems to have been some improvement.
“For those who remained in the same job, median pay increases have risen to 3% from just under 2.5% in 2009 , while one in eight employees had a pay freeze in 2010, compared to one in three in 2009.”
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