EA CEO Compensation Surges Amid Declining Median Salaries: Key Findings from Latest Proxy Filing

Electronic Arts (EA), one of the world’s leading video game publishers and developers, has come under scrutiny following the release of its latest proxy filing, which highlights a dramatic shift in its executive compensation structure.

The filing reveals that EA CEO Andrew Wilson saw his annual compensation increase by an additional $5 million this year, a significant surge that stands in stark contrast to the reported decrease in median employee salaries at the company. According to industry reporter Stephen Totilo, writing for Game File, Andrew Wilson’s 2024 pay increase was disclosed as part of EA’s annual proxy statement—an official document required of publicly traded companies to inform shareholders about executive pay and company financials.

This windfall is in addition to Wilson’s substantial ongoing remuneration as CEO of Electronic Arts, a company renowned for successful franchises available on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. What is particularly eye-catching is the reported reduction in EA’s median full-time employee income over the past year.

The 2024 proxy report states that the median salary was $117,000 for its full-time workforce, down sharply from $149,000 in 2023.

This considerable decline in employee compensation has drawn industry attention, especially when juxtaposed with the continued rise in executive pay. In their coverage, Game File clarifies that EA calculates its median pay based on a median average, selecting the middle value from all employee salaries, rather than an arithmetic mean.

Notably, EA’s filing asserts that the "same median employee" was used for comparison purposes between 2023, 2024, and the compensation estimation for 2025.

While the filing does not specifically explain the reason for the pay drop for workers, it notes that both executive and employee pay figures include bonuses and stock grants, which can fluctuate from year to year. A clear takeaway from the proxy data is the deepening pay disparity between EA’s executive leadership and its wider workforce.

A visualization accompanying the proxy illustrates, with striking clarity, the expansive gap stretching from the median employee’s $117,000 all the way to Wilson’s $39 million total compensation, underscoring industry-wide debates about equitable pay and corporate governance in the video game sector. Electronic Arts, headquartered in Redwood City, California, continues to be a major force in the gaming industry, shaping player experiences with franchises like FIFA, Madden NFL, and numerous titles for platforms such as the Nintendo Switch.

However, as this latest filing shows, conversations about pay equity are just as critical a part of the modern gaming landscape as the games themselves. For further details on the report and its implications for EA’s workforce and the broader industry, readers are encouraged to explore the in-depth analysis provided by Game File.

EA Andrew Wilson