The Overall Salary Survey: CIS 2017

The Overall Salary Survey Game Dev (CIS) 2017 provides a comprehensive analysis of compensation trends within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) game development sector. Conducted via an anonymous online survey of 836 Russian-speaking industry professionals, the research captures a snapshot of the regional labor market, focusing on salary distribution, demographic breakdowns, and the correlation between financial compensation and employee engagement.

The data reveals a net median annual salary of $16,800 for game industry professionals in the region. Geographic disparities are significant, with Belarus leading at $18,000, followed by Russia at $16,800 and Ukraine at $14,400. Within Russia, Moscow serves as a major economic hub, offering median wages of $21,600 compared to $12,000 in other Russian cities. Compensation also varies by role, with top managers earning the highest median salary at $39,000, followed by DevOps specialists at $30,000, and game programmers and project managers at $24,000. Conversely, roles in QA, art, and community support reported lower median earnings, ranging from $9,360 to $13,000.

Demographically, the survey highlights a gender pay gap, with female respondents earning a median annual salary of $13,200 compared to $18,000 for their male counterparts. The workforce is predominantly young, with 90% of participants aged 35 or under. Beyond raw salary data, the findings indicate a 23% gap between actual earnings and desired salary expectations. Furthermore, the analysis establishes a positive correlation between compensation and the Employee Net Promoter Score, suggesting that every $122 increase in monthly salary contributes to a one-point improvement in employee engagement and retention.