Becoming a Game Developer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Westwood College
is a US school (accredited) offering game development courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
game developers,
game designers,
video game designers,
software developers,
video game engineers,
game software developers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 3,390 people employed as
gaming managers alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$74,030.
Computer software engineers, applications make on average $90,170
per year and there are about 495,500
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Westwood College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Game Developer
- at the office
- at home
- used video game shop
- software game store
- internet game store
- computer games conference
- game software conference
- game systems lab
- ubisoft
- electronic games show
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Game Developer
- challenge personal creativity
- work in casual environment
- receive great pay
- work in a secure job market
- do something you love
- brag to your friends about your job
- know all the secrets and cheat codes in games
- receive credit for games designed and sold
- work freelance opportunities at leisure
- play newly designed games
Potential Drawbacks
- long hours
- eye strain
- boring games
- hard programming errors
- working in a group
- working on a budget
- game is not working
- compatibility errors
- programming issues
- poor game design
Related Professions to Consider
- Games Programmer
- Lead Programmer
- AI Programmer
- Engine Programmer
- Tools Programmer
- Video Game Design and Development
- Flash Game Developer
- Mobile Games Developer & Porting Professionals
- Computer Games Developer careers
- Video Game Design Jobs
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Game Developer
- Did you got to college?
- What is your greatest strength and how do you exploit it?
- Tell me about a time when you had to give a peer bad news?
- Where do you see the company going in the future?
- What is your educational aspirations?
- How do you score on The Joel Test?
- Do you have an in-office PA system?
- What games have you made?
- What games are you working on now What do you have planned?
- How well do you pay?
Common Collaborating Professions
- 3D Modeler
- Key Frame Animator
- Lead game designer
- Concept artist
- Character artist
- Game programmer
- Effect programmer
- Scripter
- Level designer
- Tools programmer
Game Developer Training books
Game Developer (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- 3-D Animation
- Game Design and Development
- Game Design Criticism
- Game Production
- Game Programming
- Graphics Element for Computer Games
- Interactive Design
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Digital Art
- Web Development
Game Developer Salary Information
Category: Computer software engineers, applications
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,500 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$43.35/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.36 |
$33.29 |
$42.06 |
$51.78 |
$63.5 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$90,170 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $54,840 |
$69,230 |
$87,480 |
$107,710 |
$132,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
2.6% |
9.8% |
5.5% |
48.7% |
29.3% |
3.8% |
|
Computer software engineers, applications — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$49.48/hr
|
$102,920
|
| Colorado |
$49.08/hr
|
$102,080
|
| Mississippi |
$45.82/hr
|
$95,310
|
| North Dakota |
$45.2/hr
|
$94,010
|
| Oklahoma |
$45.15/hr
|
$93,910
|
| Connecticut |
$44.41/hr
|
$92,370
|
| Wyoming |
$44/hr
|
$91,520
|
| Kansas |
$43.6/hr
|
$90,690
|
| District of Columbia |
$43.54/hr
|
$90,560
|
| North Carolina |
$43.46/hr
|
$90,390
|
| Idaho |
$43.45/hr
|
$90,370
|
| Tennessee |
$42.66/hr
|
$88,740
|
| Delaware |
$42.53/hr
|
$88,470
|
| Florida |
$42.45/hr
|
$88,300
|
| Virginia |
$42.43/hr
|
$88,260
|
| Nebraska |
$42.09/hr
|
$87,550
|
| Oregon |
$42.01/hr
|
$87,380
|
| Ohio |
$41.23/hr
|
$85,760
|
| Arkansas |
$40.71/hr
|
$84,680
|
| Alabama |
$40.18/hr
|
$83,580
|
| Guam |
$40.07/hr
|
$83,350
|
| Utah |
$39.99/hr
|
$83,170
|
| Hawaii |
$39.73/hr
|
$82,630
|
| South Carolina |
$39.17/hr
|
$81,480
|
| Iowa |
$38.62/hr
|
$80,330
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.68/hr
|
$78,380
|
| Alaska |
$37.13/hr
|
$77,240
|
| Montana |
$37.13/hr
|
$77,220
|
| New York |
$36.92/hr
|
$76,790
|
| Wisconsin |
$36.34/hr
|
$75,590
|
| Puerto Rico |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,560
|
| New Mexico |
$35.83/hr
|
$74,530
|
| Indiana |
$35.53/hr
|
$73,890
|
| Louisiana |
$35.24/hr
|
$73,310
|
| Maine |
$34.75/hr
|
$72,280
|
| Washington |
$34.63/hr
|
$72,030
|
| Kentucky |
$34.37/hr
|
$71,490
|
| West Virginia |
$33.66/hr
|
$70,010
|
| Maryland |
$33.64/hr
|
$69,970
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,870
|
| South Dakota |
$32.33/hr
|
$67,250
|
| Nevada |
$32.14/hr
|
$66,840
|
| Pennsylvania |
$31.54/hr
|
$65,610
|
| Michigan |
$31.39/hr
|
$65,290
|
| New Jersey |
$30.91/hr
|
$64,280
|
| California |
$30.84/hr
|
$64,150
|
Category: Computer software engineers, applications
| Total # Employed in the US |
495,500 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$43.35/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.36 |
$33.29 |
$42.06 |
$51.78 |
$63.5 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$90,170 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $54,840 |
$69,230 |
$87,480 |
$107,710 |
$132,080 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.3% |
2.6% |
9.8% |
5.5% |
48.7% |
29.3% |
3.8% |
|
Computer software engineers, applications — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$49.48/hr
|
$102,920
|
| Colorado |
$49.08/hr
|
$102,080
|
| Mississippi |
$45.82/hr
|
$95,310
|
| North Dakota |
$45.2/hr
|
$94,010
|
| Oklahoma |
$45.15/hr
|
$93,910
|
| Connecticut |
$44.41/hr
|
$92,370
|
| Wyoming |
$44/hr
|
$91,520
|
| Kansas |
$43.6/hr
|
$90,690
|
| District of Columbia |
$43.54/hr
|
$90,560
|
| North Carolina |
$43.46/hr
|
$90,390
|
| Idaho |
$43.45/hr
|
$90,370
|
| Tennessee |
$42.66/hr
|
$88,740
|
| Delaware |
$42.53/hr
|
$88,470
|
| Florida |
$42.45/hr
|
$88,300
|
| Virginia |
$42.43/hr
|
$88,260
|
| Nebraska |
$42.09/hr
|
$87,550
|
| Oregon |
$42.01/hr
|
$87,380
|
| Ohio |
$41.23/hr
|
$85,760
|
| Arkansas |
$40.71/hr
|
$84,680
|
| Alabama |
$40.18/hr
|
$83,580
|
| Guam |
$40.07/hr
|
$83,350
|
| Utah |
$39.99/hr
|
$83,170
|
| Hawaii |
$39.73/hr
|
$82,630
|
| South Carolina |
$39.17/hr
|
$81,480
|
| Iowa |
$38.62/hr
|
$80,330
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.68/hr
|
$78,380
|
| Alaska |
$37.13/hr
|
$77,240
|
| Montana |
$37.13/hr
|
$77,220
|
| New York |
$36.92/hr
|
$76,790
|
| Wisconsin |
$36.34/hr
|
$75,590
|
| Puerto Rico |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,560
|
| New Mexico |
$35.83/hr
|
$74,530
|
| Indiana |
$35.53/hr
|
$73,890
|
| Louisiana |
$35.24/hr
|
$73,310
|
| Maine |
$34.75/hr
|
$72,280
|
| Washington |
$34.63/hr
|
$72,030
|
| Kentucky |
$34.37/hr
|
$71,490
|
| West Virginia |
$33.66/hr
|
$70,010
|
| Maryland |
$33.64/hr
|
$69,970
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.59/hr
|
$69,870
|
| South Dakota |
$32.33/hr
|
$67,250
|
| Nevada |
$32.14/hr
|
$66,840
|
| Pennsylvania |
$31.54/hr
|
$65,610
|
| Michigan |
$31.39/hr
|
$65,290
|
| New Jersey |
$30.91/hr
|
$64,280
|
| California |
$30.84/hr
|
$64,150
|
Category: Multi-Media Artists and Animators
| Total # Employed in the US |
28,800 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$30.2/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.56 |
$20.76 |
$28.01 |
$37.21 |
$47.66 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$62,810 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $32,360 |
$43,170 |
$58,250 |
$77,410 |
$99,130 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.1% |
11.2% |
19.6% |
10.0% |
42.3% |
12.3% |
1.6% |
|
