Benefits benchmark for games studios in India (2026)

From our salary and benefits survey of 285 games professionals.

How common is each benefit?

• Health insurance: Startup (1 to 50): 27%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 48%; Large (200+): 71%

• Performance bonus: Startup (1 to 50): 39%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 49%; Large (200+): 61%

• 20+ days paid leave: Startup (1 to 50): 39%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 52%; Large (200+): 51%

• Remote or flexible work: Startup (1 to 50): 60%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 60%; Large (200+): 66%

• Learning budget: Startup (1 to 50): 15%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 26%; Large (200+): 35%

• Wellness or gym: Startup (1 to 50): 10%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 15%; Large (200+): 28%

• Books or games stipend: Startup (1 to 50): 7%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 19%; Large (200+): 20%

• ESOPs: Startup (1 to 50): 10%; Mid-size (51 to 200): 14%; Large (200+): 18%

Median pay: startup ₹7 LPA, mid-size ₹10 LPA, large ₹10 LPA.

Health cover amounts (people who have insurance)

• Below ₹5 lakh: 38%

• ₹5 to 10 lakh: 54%

• Above ₹10 lakh: 8%

• About half of policies cover parents

By career level

• Entry: Health insurance: 51%; ESOPs: 19%; Learning budget: 30%

• Mid: Health insurance: 36%; ESOPs: 4%; Learning budget: 15%

• Senior: Health insurance: 54%; ESOPs: 18%; Learning budget: 28%

• Lead: Health insurance: 55%; ESOPs: 14%; Learning budget: 36%

• Director: Health insurance: 50%; ESOPs: 40%; Learning budget: 20%

Where to start if your budget is small

1. Group health insurance of at least ₹5 lakh, with parents if possible. Only 27% of people at startups in our survey have any.

2. A fixed yearly learning budget. Growth was the most common reason for moving on our 2026 calls.

3. A clear leave policy of 20+ days.

4. All of this written in the job description.

For contract roles

Say at the start whether the role includes insurance and paid leave, and whether it can convert. About 100 candidates in our LinkedIn chats this year asked about employment type.

Data: Playdawn India Gaming Industry Salary and Benefits Survey, 285 responses, self-reported, consented anonymised use. Some level groups are small (directors: 10 responses).