Getting a career in video games is one of the fastest moving areas of computers, databases, and other technologies that run the world we live in today.
You’ll not only be able to design, and test, your favorite games, but you’ll also be building skills that are relevant to countless other Industries.
Here are a few of the biggest career opportunities in video games and why you should land these jobs!
1. Computer Support Specialist
Why Become a Computer Support Specialist?
The computer support specialist is a career that has a lot of potentials.
Many of these jobs are entry-level, but there are also plenty that is highly specialized and require more skill.
The average starting salary for these jobs is over $50,000 and requires just 4 years of a college education.
| Computer Support Specialist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $57,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $27.72 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 10% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Computer Support Specialist
2. Software Developer
Why Become a Software Developer?
Are you looking for a career that can make you 6 figures with just 4 years of the college experience?
This career will have you designing the games, applications, and other software that makes today’s gaming industry as popular as it is!
| Software Developer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $57,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $27.72 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 21% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Software Developer
3. Computer Programmer
Why Become a Computer Programmer?
Software developers may design the games, but it’s down to the computer programmer to take those ideas and make them realities.
These are the heroes of the gaming world who put in the hours, use their expertise, and take games from ideas on paper to fully-coded realities.
These jobs make around $90,000 a year and typically require a 4-year degree in a computer science field.
| Computer Programmer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $96,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $46.46 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 7% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Computer Programmer
4. Database Administrator
Why Become a Database Administrator?
This career can get you a salary of around $96,000 right from your first job.
With just 4 years of the college experience, database administrators build the file and storage architecture for gaming systems.
These skills are easily transferable to virtually any industry that uses computers.
| Database Administrator Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $96,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $46.46 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 9% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Database Administrator
5. Video Game Tester
Why Become a Video Game Tester?
This job even has an average salary of over $100,000 and like many of the jobs on this list, only needs a 4-year college degree to get you started.
These professionals play through games and look for bugs, glitches, and exploits to ensure that players have an ideal experience once the game is ready to ship.
| Video Game Tester Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $96,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $46.46 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 12% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Video Game Tester
6. Network Administrator
Why Become a Network Administrator?
How does an average salary of over $80,000 sound to you?
How about that mixed with a career that has you making sure that the entire network of a video game company’s computer systems is running smoothly?
This job offers countless challenging puzzles as you keep complicated servers, LANs, and other networks running at peak performance.
| Network Administrator Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $91,250 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.87 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 5% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Network Administrator
7. Video Game Designer
Why Become a Video Game Designer?
How does the idea of designing the assets of a video game sound to you?
If you want to be the person who creates the artwork, models, and graphics for gaming, this is the job for you.
Unlike other careers on this list, this one is more art-focused than it is strictly about coding.
You’ll still need a 4-year college degree, but expect to take a different path than the engineers and admins of the gaming world.
| Video Game Designer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $91,250 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.87 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 4% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Video Game Designer
8. Software Engineer
Why Become a Software Engineer?
Software engineers have had the best career growth out of all the jobs on this list.
These engineers design the code that makes up the backbone of gaming, websites, and apps.
You’ll need a 4-year degree in computer science to land this job, but you can expect an average salary of over $100,000.
| Software Engineer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $91,250 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $43.87 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 26% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Software Engineer
9. Market Research Analyst
Why Become a Market Research Analyst?
Not so into computers, but still want to be in the gaming industry?
A market research analyst works on everything from marketing campaigns to figure out key aspects of the game’s design.
These professionals work with statistics, demographics, and complicated data to run a game’s marketing campaign.
| Market Research Analyst Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $76,080 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $36.58 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 23.2% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Market Research Analyst
10. Computer Technician
Why Become a Computer Technician?
This job requires the smallest investment in college education on our list.
With only a 1 or 2 year degree, a computer technician can earn upwards of $50,000.
This job has individuals maintaining the physical systems and hardware that game companies rely on.
If you like working with your hands, but want to stay in tech and gaming, this is the career for you.
| Computer Technician Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $57,650 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $27.72 |
| Education | 1-2 Years |
| Outlook | 10% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Computer Technician
11. Computer Systems Analyst
Why Become a Computer Systems Analyst?
This job requires a four-year college degree but can earn you an average of $90,000 a year.
This job has individuals studying the architecture of a company’s computer systems and figuring out ways they can improve their systems and make them more efficient.
This job is ideal for individuals who like working through complicated puzzles and want to see a real-world impact on their work.
| Computer Systems Analyst Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $102,210 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $49.14 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 9% |
Read the full career guide: How to Become a Computer Systems Analyst
