How much do video game programmers make?

[Tanstalas]

phnguyen89 said:
Programmers:
$57k - $80k for < 3 years
$75k - $111k for 3 - 6 years
$94k - $128k > 6 years
programmer/engineer < technical director < lead programmer

Artists:
$40k-$43k < 3 years
$58k-$81k for 3-6 years
$74k-$102k > 6 years
artist/animators < lead artist < art director

Designers:
$46k-$51k < 3
$54k-$60k for 3-6
$74k-$98k > 6
game designer < writer < creative director/lead designer

Audio people:
$64k < 3 years
$59k-$80k for 3-6 years
$83k-$91k > 6 years
sound/audio designers < audio director < composer/musician

Producers:
$46k-$62k < 3
$55k-$93k for 3-6
$65k-$125k > 6
associate producer < producer/project lead < executive producer

Quality Assurance people:
$25k-$38k < 3
$38k-$41k for 3-6
$43k-$70k > 6
tester < Q/A lead

Please note that the above are most likely "salaries" - I know some people in the business and that is inline with what they make, however, they also work 60-80 hour weeks which if you break it down into a per hour job, you would make more per hour doing programming elsewhere.

If you want to do game programming go for it, however, if you want to make $$ as a programmer go into the financial sector (banks and the like)