twesterm on 14 June 2007
53,000 isn't a lot in California and that's the only place you're going to get a salary that high for entry (I was offered about 50k for an entry level design job). In a place like Texas, salaries start in the low 30's and range to the low 40's for entry level (with level designers being on the lower end and programmer's being on the higher). Those salaries also vary depending on the type of benefits the studio gives.
One studio I know starts you at about 30k/year here in the Dallas area but you get incredible benefits that makes it worth closer to 40k which is nice for an entry level level designer.
