Side-by-side distribution
Embedded Engineer
$185,000
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 52.9%
- Live roles
- 450
Game Developer
$162,848
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 33%
- Live roles
- 103
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Engineer, Embedded Linux Developer
Helix AI Engineer, Embedded Android Systems
Principal Embedded Security Engineer
Sr. Software Engineer, Embedded Agentic AI
Staff Embedded Firmware Engineer
Principal Embedded Software Engineer
Embedded Software Test Engineer, Onboard Test Automation
Embedded SW Engineer
Staff Embedded Linux Engineer
Embedded Systems Engineer-Federal
Highest-paying jobs
Principal Software Engineer, Game Safety
Principal Core Systems Software Engineer - Game Engine (C++)
Principal Software Engineer - Game Engine Systems
Senior Software Engineer, Game Engine Systems
Game Developer - AI Trainer
Indie Game Developer - AI Trainer
Senior Game Security Programmer
Software Engineer, Game Development
Software Engineer, Game Development
Systems Software Engineer - Game Engine Network (C++)
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Anduril Industries
|
$199,500 | 25 |
Silvus Technologies
|
$170,000 | 10 |
SpaceX
|
$142,500 | 9 |
| AX Axon | $183,300 | 7 |
Verkada
|
$245,000 | 6 |
Applied Intuition
|
$202,000 | 6 |
TP-Link Systems Inc.
|
$140,000 | 6 |
STR
|
$130,500 | 6 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Roblox
|
$267,950 | 7 |
2K
|
$119,530 | 6 |
|
Applied Intuition
|
$170,000 | 3 |
|
Handshake
|
$260,000 | 2 |
|
Anduril Industries
|
$209,500 | 2 |
|
Epic Games
|
$186,868 | 2 |
Striking Distance Studios
|
$166,000 | 2 |
teamLFG
|
$200,000 | 1 |
Embedded Engineer salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $200,750 | 4 |
| Seattle | $193,000 | 13 |
| Austin | $186,975 | 6 |
| Boston | $183,300 | 11 |
| San Francisco | $180,000 | 19 |
| Los Angeles | $180,000 | 15 |
| Denver | $177,500 | 3 |
| New York | $167,500 | 6 |
Embedded Engineer vs Game Developer: which pays more?
The median for Embedded Engineer is $185,000 per year (typically $155,000–$208,938), versus $162,848 for Game Developer ($131,155–$218,940). That puts Embedded Engineer about 14% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Embedded Engineer and Game Developer are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.