In Salt Lake City, 36-year-old Mari Murdock has turned her passion for tabletop gaming into a full-fledged career, earning $37,000 annually as a professional Dungeon Master (DM). Murdock, who leads Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) games, is making a name for herself in an unconventional but increasingly popular field.
“A lot of people don’t see hobbies like D&D as something that could make money,” says Murdock. But she’s proving otherwise, working for Dungeon Master Direct, a company that specializes in organizing tabletop roleplaying sessions both online and in-person.
Murdock’s journey began as a college student where she discovered her love for D&D. Over the years, she honed her skills in game mastering, eventually turning her hobby into a side hustle, and later, a primary source of income. Since 2021, she has been running multiple D&D sessions weekly, bringing in $24,000 a year. Additionally, she supplements her income by teaching writing at Westminster University, adding another $13,000 to her annual earnings.
Her story is a testament to the idea that if you’re passionate about something, you might as well get paid for it. While it’s not an easy job—requiring hours of preparation and the ability to improvise on the spot—Murdock finds it deeply fulfilling. “I love teaching, writing, and playing games,” she shares, reflecting on how her career is an amalgamation of all her passions.
Murdock and her husband, Scott, who earns $96,000 as a communications director, live in downtown Salt Lake City. The couple recently purchased a home and are working to pay down their debts while planning for the future, including the possibility of fostering or adopting children.
For Murdock, gaming isn’t just a job; it’s a creative outlet that allows her to develop her storytelling and characterization skills. As she looks ahead, she hopes to continue her work as a DM while branching out into writing her own novels.
“I feel very lucky that I’m able to do this,” Murdock says. “I’m feeling happy and blessed with it.”
This article is part of CNBC Make It’s Millennial Money series, which showcases how people around the world earn, spend, and save their money.
