US Videogame Industry Employed 220,000 Directly, Indirectly in 2015, ESA Report Says

More than 220,000 people were directly or indirectly employed in the U.S. videogame industry, which had nearly 2,500 companies operating in 50 states in 2015, the Entertainment Software Association said in a report Tuesday. Of the 220,000 workers, roughly 65,000 people such as game designers and programmers were directly employed by the industry, while 155,000 workers, who supported the Android or iOS platforms, R&D and manufacturing assembly jobs related to gaming, were indirectly employed, emailed an ESA spokesman. Employees earned an average of $97,000 in 2015. ESA said total videogame software sales exceeded $24.5 billion last year. “The data we share today details a roadmap for economic growth, and the power of cultivating high-paying, technical careers in interactive entertainment," said CEO Michael Gallagher in a news release.