Brightmine: Gender pay gap in UK's gaming sector stands at 17.1%

The disparity in average basic salaries between men and women in the UK gaming sector exceeds £8,000, with men earning more.

According to information from Brightmine, a company specializing in salary benchmarking for the video game industry, these results are derived from over 25 different gaming firms and more than 3,000 employees.

Men in the industry earn £49,695 on average, while women earn £41,174, leading to a 17.1% gender pay gap. This gap surpasses the overall industry average of 14.7% but is less than the 25.8% gap in the technology sector, as reported by Brightmine.

The Brightmine 2024 benchmarking initiative has commenced, and UK game companies are encouraged to participate. Details for joining can be found here. The initiative is in collaboration with GamesIndustry.biz.

Last year's data from Brightmine highlighted that women are predominantly found in studio support roles (98% female), general management (77%), and information and advice (62%). Conversely, men dominate in game art (97% male), marketing (97%), and game QA (96%).

Brightmine, previously known as XpertHR, is a recognized benchmarking service used in various industries. Last year, it initiated a pilot program with GamesIndustry.biz to provide insights into salary structures within the gaming sector, aiming to promote fair compensation and talent retention.

The 2024 program is currently active and will run until the end of July. Participation ensures confidentiality and anonymity of the data, ensuring it cannot be linked back to any company or individual.

Participation is free, and participants will receive a basic report. There are options for more detailed reports and database access, which are available for a fee.

Interested parties can register their interest here.

For questions about data participation or further engagement, you can contact Rachel Sunderland or Jennie Jakubowski.