The salary levels of Finland are attracting globally
23.4.2026
The latest game industry salary and labour market report from the international recruitment service 8Bit gives a good picture of Finland’s position as part of the Nordic region. Together, the Nordic countries still rank at the top of Europe in terms of salary levels, but lag behind North America. For example, the median salary of software developer in the game industry in the Nordic region is around 50 000 euros per year at the mid-level, around 62 800 euros at the senior level, and around 95 000 euros in management roles. The corresponding figures are higher than in Western Europe, but clearly below the United States, where the salary at senior levels rise to 120 000 euros.
These figures are also in line with the latest salary survey by Game Makers of Finland, where the median annual salary was around 52 000 euros per year. The realistic income level of various workers in the entire game industry is often lower than the figures presented, and the salary gap in the game industry is quite large.
The structure of the labour market also tells us about the current state of the industry. Internationally, about 57% of 8Bit’s survey respondents work in a permanent employment relationship and 17,6% as outsourced workforce, but over 15% are currently actively looking for work, either within the game industry or outside of it. In the Nordic countries, the number of outsourced workers is significantly lower, at only 4,3%. Although the majority still have a job, the sense of security has weakened and only about half feel that their position is firmly secure. The same level of insecurity is reflected in the Game Makers of Finland’s salary survey. This uncertainty has increased across the board.
A key observation from Finland’s perspective is related to the talent structure. Seniors make up the largest group (32,4%), while entry-level workers account for only 2,3%. This indicates a market where studios are focusing on recruiting experienced talent and where entry for new talent has become difficult. At the same time, it creates pressure for long-term growth in Finland as well.
The Nordic countries are following global trends in terms of work methods. Remote work is the most common model (52,1%), the hybrid model covers 32,6% and only 15,3% work completely in the office. The results of Game Makers of Finland’s survey answers differ from this, as only 25% said they work completely remotely and 60,6% of respondents use the hybrid model. Remote and hybrid models open up the opportunity for Finnish studios to reach international talent, but at the same time increase competition, as domestic talent can work for foreign employers without the need to relocate.
The 8Bit report also highlights the impact of artificial intelligence. Although only about 3% of respondents say they have lost their job directly because of AI, as many as 18,6% see it as a significant threat and more than half in total see it as at least some level of risk. This is primarily a sign of growing expectations and uncertainty, not of a realized structural change.
There is a clear shift in the expectations of employees. A four-day workweek is the most desired benefit in the report (38,5% of respondents), but only 4,2% of employers offer it. At the same time, traditional benefits such as flexible working hours and vacations are already widely used, shifting the competition increasingly to time management and coping.
Overall, the 8Bit’s report reinforces the image of Finland as a stable but competitive game industry market. The salary level is internationally attractive in relation to costs, but the key challenges relate to the availability of experienced professionals, the entry of new talent, and how studios can meet changing expectations in a situation where global competition for talent is fiercer than ever.