Think about a career where you will be part of developing a world where people can have fun, thrill, adventure, and less stress. That sounds exciting, isn’t it?
We are talking about the gaming industry which has been rapidly evolving over the last few years and has opened the doors for many unique careers that are quite different from the traditional tech careers.
Developing a game is an amalgamation of various factors and this includes artistic aspects, technical aspects, modern technology, audio engineering, and so on. This shows that gaming has careers open for people with different interests.
So a person who is fond of designing can have a career in gaming while at the same time, a person who is fond of developing applications can also have a career.
Since the gaming industry is ripping with numerous careers that will give you experience from the mundane tech industry all while paying you well, you might find it overwhelming to identify the top or the best ones. But don’t worry because we have done the heavy lifting for you.
In this article, we will be discussing the top 10 tech careers in a game that belongs to varying interests of people and will guide you on how to become a pivotal player in the gaming industry.
Our List Of Top 10 Tech Careers in Games
Here is our list of the top 10 tech careers in games:
- Game Designers
- Game Programmer
- Gameplay Animator
- Graphics Engineer
- Sound Designer
- Quality Assurance Testers
- Game Writer
- Digital Marketer
- Community Manager
- Cybersecurity Analyst
1. Game Designers
Average annual salary: $1,09,410 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s or diploma degree in game design
Video games are all about creating plot, setting, and characters and this is what game designers do. Basically, they set up the whole setting of the game which will then be worked on to develop into a fully-fledged video game that one can play.
Game designers work by collaborating with graphics designers and programmers who will be the one who brings life to the game that the game designer has created.
The prime role of game designers is to design a game that is aesthetically pleasing, fun to play, and engaging for the gamers.
Most companies require you to hold a bachelor’s or diploma in game design to become a game designer.
2. Game Programmer
Average annual salary: $120,913 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in software engineering
Game programming is a career that plays a pivotal role in bringing the game that the designer has created to life. Simply put, game programmers are simply computer programmers who work on developing games.
Game programmers develop the software for the game which involves writing code for the application, assembling platforms for the game, and meeting the unique requirements of the game.
The game programmer works closely with the game designer to ensure the development of the software that meets the design and specifications of the designer.
Game programmers are also responsible for solving any issues that the quality assurance team has found and working for the smooth running of the software.
3. Gameplay Animator
Average annual salary: $77,482 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in computer art or related field
One of the most important factors that keeps a person hooked to a game is its visuals and the gameplay animator plays a major role in developing an enticing visual.
The role of the gameplay animator is to produce animated graphics of the game’s characters, setting, background, and other essential elements of a game. The prime quality that a gameplay animator needs is a vivid imagination and the ability to picture the idea of a game designer.
Earlier, the gaming industry used to hire studios for gameplay animation creation but now they have started to hire their own gameplay animator for creating better animations.
4. Graphics Engineer
Average annual salary:$74,072 per year
Education requirement: Diploma or bachelor’s degree in graphic design
A graphics engineer is a person who needs both technical and artistic skills. The job of a graphics engineer is to turn the design or vision into a trading experience that is engaging and seamless.
A graphics engineer is expected to have expertise in graphics rendering, shader programming, and visual effect development.
In short, graphics engineers are the ones who set the whole visual aspect of a game and are responsible for making it into one that the animator and game designer have envisioned it to be.
5. Sound Designer
Average annual salary: $68,537 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in sound engineering or related field
What makes a game intriguing and engaging is not just its visuals but also the sound. Audio plays an important role in a game and there is a career open for creating the best sound suitable for a game which is called sound designer.
The job of a sound designer is to create a sound that sets the mood of the game, can convey the setting of the game, tell the story, and make the gaming experience more interactive.
Sound designers are responsible for creating epic sounds to eerie or calm sounds depending on the mood and genre of the game.
Sound designing is a career that is best suited for people who want to make use of their technical and artistic skills.
6. Quality Assurance Testers
Average annual salary:$82,243 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field
When a game has been developed, the last step is testing its quality and this is a career that plays a pivotal role in developing the best gaming experience.
Quality assurance testers test the game aka the software for any bugs or issues by running many tests and trying to find any drawbacks in the software.
If the quality assurance testers find any problem in the developed software, they will then report it to the developer who will work on fixing the problem.
Quality assurance testers test the game multiple times until they find no bugs or problems in the software.
7. Game Writer
Average annual salary:$72,567
Education requirement: High school diploma at a minimum
For a game to be developed, there should be a story, characters, plots, challenges, and so on and this is the job of a game writer. These writers write the story of the game and write dialogues that give life to the game.
Game writers work closely with game designers to develop their vision of the game into life and to add more context to the story. They are responsible for conveying the backstory of the villain and the hero and the purpose of the game.
This is a job that can decide the whole mood of the game and has the potential to make one a quite engaging one.
8. Digital Marketer
Average annual salary:$68372 per year
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in a related field
If you are a person who is looking for a career in games that isn’t technical or artistic, then a digital marketer might be the right choice.
A game needs to be marketed into the gaming community to make it a successful one and improve its reach in the market. A digital marketer will be the one responsible for this.
They will be integrating multiple strategies and techniques to boost the visibility of the game by conducting promotional campaigns and advertisements.
Also, Read: Cloud Marketing Vs Digital Marketing
9. Community Manager
Average annual salary:$74,013
Education requirement: Bachelor’s in marketing or PR
For people who like to be part of every aspect of a gaming studio, then community manager is the one career that will suit you the best.
Community managers are the ones responsible for managing social media and other forums where players get together and collect feedback from the players about the game and its experience.
Community managers also conduct programs and events to grow the community of gaming and increase its base. So in short, they develop a strong relationship between the gaming studio and the players of the game.
10. Cybersecurity Analyst
Average annual salary:$48,492
Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in cyber security or related field
Security is an important factor that determines the quality of any software including video games and therefore a cybersecurity analyst is one of the most high-demand jobs in the gaming industry.
The role of a cybersecurity analyst is to plan, protect, and monitor security measures of the game. They are also responsible for maintaining the safety of the gaming networks and protecting the privacy of the gamer.
Also, Read: Top 15 Upcoming PS5 Games: Highly Anticipated
Conclusion
The world of gaming is constantly widening and new windows of opportunities are opening every day.
It is expected that the gaming industry will continue to fledge in the coming years and many reports say that this is the right time to start your career in the industry which will make you an expert in the coming years.
The best part about careers in games is that they are unique from other industries and pay you well for your skill and hard work.
