In-House vs Outsourcing Calculator
Compare the true costs of building an in-house team versus outsourcing. Includes hidden costs like recruiting, benefits, and onboarding.
Avg. 3D Artist salary: $100,000/year
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Note
This calculator uses industry averages. Actual costs vary based on specific requirements, seniority levels, and market conditions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Outsource when you need specialized skills for a defined period, want to scale quickly, or need to manage costs carefully. Hire in-house when you need ongoing, long-term capacity, want full control over the work, or are building core competencies. Many studios use a hybrid approach: in-house for core gameplay and outsourcing for asset production.
Hidden costs include: recruiting fees (typically 15-25% of salary), benefits and taxes (30-40% on top of salary), equipment and software licenses, office space and utilities, management overhead, training and onboarding time (2-3 months to full productivity), and the cost of turnover if employees leave.
Quality depends more on the specific team than the model. Top outsourcing studios produce AAA-quality work for major publishers. The key factors are: clear communication, detailed briefs, proper vetting of partners, and effective project management. With the right partner and processes, outsourced work can match or exceed in-house quality.