Is $21 an Hour Enough for Gamers in California?
As a passionate gamer and content creator myself living in California, this is a question I‘ve spent plenty of time researching. Given the rising costs here, is $21/hr actually an adequate wage for fellow enthusiasts in the Golden State? After extensive analysis between incomes, budgets and lifestyles – I can safely say that yes, $21/hr is a pretty solid wage for gamers here.
Typical Gaming Industry Salaries
First let‘s examine what those working in actual gaming jobs typically earn as a baseline:
| Gaming Occupation | Average CA Salary |
|---|---|
| Video Game Designer | $71,950/year |
| Game Developer | $106,092/year |
| 3D Animator | $77,834/year |
| Game Writer | $77,027/year |
So at $43,680 per year, $21/hr certainly falls on the lower end of earning potential in core gaming roles. However, when accounting for California‘s surging costs, it remains an adequate wage even for passionate gamers:
Realistic Gaming Budget on $21/hr
Based on average rates in my city, here is an approximate monthly budget if earning $21/hr:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (w/ roommates) | $800 |
| Groceries | $300 |
| Gaming Subscriptions | $30 |
| New Game Releases | $60 |
| PC Upgrades/Parts | $175 |
| Conventions/Meetups | $100 |
| Total Expenses | $1,465 |
After taxes and expenses, I‘m estimating around $1,100 left monthly for utilities, transport, nights out etc. Certainly not rolling in excess cash, but enough for basics plus allocating over $350 towards your passion as a gamer.
Comfortable Gamer Lifestyle?
Given the above budgets, $21/hr still provides plenty of room for enjoying the gaming hobby after essentials in California. Where this wage really helps is splitting housing costs with a roommate who potentially shares interests. This frees up extra case for pursuing gaming itself:
- Attend 2-3 major gaming conventions yearly
- Upgrade a PC component every 2-3 months
- Buy at least 5-6 new AAA game releases per year
- Maintain 2-3 paid game/video subscriptions
- Purchase professional streaming equipment
While you won‘t be able to build a $5k setup or travel out-of-state monthly, $21/hr gives a healthy budget for gaming as a lifestyle here. Small tradeoffs around older parts or waiting for sales are required, but passionate gamers can still thrive on this in California.
Compared to Other Tech Hubs
In terms of supporting a gaming hobby specifically, California is actually comparable expense-wise to other tech states once you factor in salaries too. For example:
| Location | Avg Game Developer Salary | Est. Rent |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $101,808 | $1,655 |
| Seattle, WA | $108,609 | $1,985 |
| Austin, TX | $92,106 | $1,550 |
So while upfront incomes seem higher elsewhere, so too are general costs – ultimately leaving similar relative budgets for gaming specifically after living expenses. California‘s major advantage here too is simply having way more gaming conventions, events and meetups year-round to engage with too.
Supplemental Income Ideas
While fully comfortable overall, I know all gamers love having some extra cash around to fuel their passion. If finding yourself wanting more funds on $21/hr, leverage your gaming skills and knowledge to generate side income!
- Streaming commissions – Create custom overlays, alert animations, emotes for livestreamers
- PC building – Offer assembly/upgrade services for those less tech inclined
- FAQ writing – Create game guides, walkthroughs or tutorials for popular fan sites
- Tech support – Troubleshoot games, hardware or software issues for others
Ways to supplement gaming income are endless for those motivated! Even at $21/hr I easily support my hobby – but side cash never hurts in California.
So for any fellow gamers also making around this wage, rest assured you can comfortably enjoy gaming as a lifestyle here with the right budgeting. Hope this analysis has provided realistic insight into salaries, costs and passion-supporting potential! Let me know if you have any other questions.
