income question

MagicSugar

If location, responsibility of a position, and loss of freedom (as a freelancer) is not an issue, and you've been freelancing full time for awhile now...

What realistic salary range that's offered by a studio would make you switch from full time freelancing to full time staff artist (regardless if the studio's established or just a startup).

Just curious because I've never seen this addressed before in salary surveys. What's the cutoff point where it's financially better for one Sr. Level freelancer to go to a regular office environment. I know pay varies regionally, so let's limit it to North America.

EarthQuake

It depends dude, this is really a personal question, people value certain things more than others. Theres no mathematical forumal to something like this.

Mark Dygert

Depends on the project, the company and where you're at in life.
Answer those and you've answered your question...
I don't know anyone that has a blanket statement that fits.

Ferg

tree fitty

MagicSugar

EarthQuake wrote: »

It depends dude, this is really a personal question, people value certain things more than others. Theres no mathematical forumal to something like this.

Okay. Sorry didn't mean to ferret out personal data. Just wondering if there's a consensus for a range given what industry salary surveys are providing (I know they're not accurate but provide a general ball park.).

How about if I ask for a percentage. How much more on top of your projected freelance income for a year would make one seriously think about a company's offer.

Tangentially, is there a survey that compares freelancing income next to full time staff.

Yozora

hmm why does it matter how much the salary would need to be to make someone else switch? Shouldnt you be asking this question to yourself? How much would the salary need to be to make you consider switching?

Mark Dygert

http://www.gamecareerguide.com/features/416/the_game_industry_salary_survey_2007.php

This might have some helpful info, but I doubt it will cover it fully since its such a personal decision and so much factors into it from different sources.

MagicSugar

Yozora wrote: »

hmm why does it matter how much the salary would need to be to make someone else switch? Shouldnt you be asking this question to yourself? How much would the salary need to be to make you consider switching?

I didn't mean to discuss so I can apply opinions to my career situation it's just totally out of curiosity since some companies post what they're paying Seniors and a lot of surveys list what senior levels guys are supposed to get.

Just discussing.

Let me throw this out there. I know at least one EA lead animator who pulls in around 80K. Can a majority of experienced freelancers beat this income from industry work alone and not counting other side job or income source.

I acknowledge Vig's post, personal values vary. I'm just looking for a general survey.

thomasp

i would expect to earn less in a fulltime position than what i could get as a freelancer really. you're giving up the freedom (and the instability of things) and your rate you had based on mistakes made previously, attitude, a bit of thin air and vague estimations for a more secure daily-grind with a guaranteed paycheck and attendance monitoring included.
or at least that would be my idea of things.

as for seniority, it does not necessarily compare. an experienced freelancer might not be recognized as a senior corporate office-daysleeper right away depending on the circumstances. if you have no previous relevant corporate track record or be able to bend your resume like uri geller does spoons, it might not work that way right away. then again, title and pay are not necessarily closely linked either and depend on the job location a lot, too.

[MILES]

Five chickens...