Becoming a Video Game Designer via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Westwood College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering video game courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
video game developers,
game designers,
video game designers,
game developers,
video game engineers,
game software developers, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 495,500 people employed as
computer software engineers, applications alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$90,170.
Computer programmers make on average $74,690
per year and there are about 367,880
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 Video Game Designer
- Sound Studios
- Freelance Establishments
- Graphics Studios
- Design Companies
- Software Engineering Companies
- Content Writing Companies
- Computer Science Companies
- System Administration Firms
- Animation Studios
- Computer Animation Studios
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Video Game Designer
- Freedom to be creative
- Be in a casual work environment
- Get paid for playing games
- Have a unique job
- Brag to your friends about your career
- Know the secrets and cheats of the game you design
- Test beta versions of a game
- Create your own hours
- Enjoy free drinks and snacks and the game studios
- Enjoy a high level of independence
Potential Drawbacks
- Required to come up with new ideas all the time
- Working within certain program guidelines or write a new program
- Constantly meet deadlines often unreasonable ones
- Work with many people who may have ideas much different than your own
- Deal with getting competent testers for the game
- Find financing
- Market the game correctly or it will not sell
- Deal with businessmen who do not understand video game programming
- Work around the clock when a problem arises
- Create great graphics that will run on most computers
Related Professions to Consider
- Storyboard Animators
- Character Artists
- Level Designer
- Texture Mapper
- Programming Language Specialists
- Interface Designers
- Sound Designers
- Quality Assurance Designers
- World Designers
- User Interface Designers
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Video Game Designer
- What five adjectives would best describe you both in and out of work?
- What do you do in your spare time?
- What reservations should I have about you as an employee?
- Why do you want to leave your current employer?
- What kind of decision do you find most difficult to make?
- What are your strengths in video came design?
- What do you dislike about your present job?
- What do you like about your present job?
- What do you like about your bosses?
- What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Computer Programmer
- Commercial Illustrator
- Copywriter
- Game Tester
- Software Development Engineer
- Flash Designer
- Multimedia Designer
- Character Modeler
- Sound Designer
- Digital Visual Designer
Video Game Designer Training books
Video Game Designer (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
- Graphic Elements for Computer Games
- Interactive Design
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Website Design
- Computer/Graphic Arts
Video Game Designer Salary Information
Category: Computer programmers
| Total # Employed in the US |
367,880 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$35.91/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $19.54 |
$25.78 |
$34.1 |
$43.75 |
$54.51 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$74,690 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $40,640 |
$53,620 |
$70,940 |
$91,000 |
$113,380 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
5.0% |
14.4% |
10.0% |
49.8% |
18.0% |
2.2% |
|
Computer programmers — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$43.6/hr
|
$90,680
|
| Ohio |
$43.49/hr
|
$90,470
|
| Connecticut |
$40.36/hr
|
$83,940
|
| Colorado |
$40.35/hr
|
$83,930
|
| Delaware |
$39.57/hr
|
$82,310
|
| North Dakota |
$38.77/hr
|
$80,650
|
| Utah |
$37.44/hr
|
$77,870
|
| Mississippi |
$37.34/hr
|
$77,660
|
| Guam |
$37.33/hr
|
$77,640
|
| Florida |
$37.32/hr
|
$77,620
|
| Oklahoma |
$37.28/hr
|
$77,540
|
| Wyoming |
$37.26/hr
|
$77,500
|
| Oregon |
$36.53/hr
|
$75,990
|
| Puerto Rico |
$35.89/hr
|
$74,650
|
| District of Columbia |
$35.84/hr
|
$74,560
|
| Idaho |
$35.25/hr
|
$73,320
|
| Kansas |
$34.94/hr
|
$72,680
|
| Arkansas |
$34.73/hr
|
$72,230
|
| Alaska |
$34.13/hr
|
$70,990
|
| Alabama |
$33.85/hr
|
$70,400
|
| Virginia |
$33.68/hr
|
$70,050
|
| Nebraska |
$33.56/hr
|
$69,800
|
| Montana |
$33.44/hr
|
$69,560
|
| South Carolina |
$33.37/hr
|
$69,420
|
| Maine |
$33.13/hr
|
$68,900
|
| New York |
$33.03/hr
|
$68,710
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.93/hr
|
$68,490
|
| Maryland |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,160
|
| Tennessee |
$32.59/hr
|
$67,790
|
| Kentucky |
$32.19/hr
|
$66,960
|
| New Mexico |
$31.45/hr
|
$65,410
|
| Hawaii |
$31.39/hr
|
$65,290
|
| North Carolina |
$30.91/hr
|
$64,290
|
| Louisiana |
$30.9/hr
|
$64,260
|
| Indiana |
$30.77/hr
|
$64,010
|
| California |
$30.58/hr
|
$63,610
|
| Washington |
$30.44/hr
|
$63,320
|
| Wisconsin |
$30.07/hr
|
$62,550
|
| South Dakota |
$27.32/hr
|
$56,820
|
| Massachusetts |
$27.3/hr
|
$56,790
|
| Michigan |
$26.87/hr
|
$55,890
|
| Nevada |
$24.47/hr
|
$50,900
|
| Pennsylvania |
$24.34/hr
|
$50,640
|
| Iowa |
$23.82/hr
|
$49,540
|
| West Virginia |
$23.77/hr
|
$49,440
|
| New Jersey |
$23.65/hr
|
$49,190
|
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, systems software
| Total # Employed in the US |
385,200 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$46.45/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $28.65 |
$35.83 |
$44.94 |
$56.01 |
$67.28 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$96,620 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $59,600 |
$74,520 |
$93,470 |
$116,510 |
$139,930 |
|
| 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, systems software — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Colorado |
$52.52/hr
|
$109,240
|
| North Carolina |
$48.95/hr
|
$101,820
|
| Missouri |
$48.88/hr
|
$101,670
|
| North Dakota |
$48.15/hr
|
$100,150
|
| Connecticut |
$47.4/hr
|
$98,590
|
| Nebraska |
$46.85/hr
|
$97,450
|
| Oklahoma |
$46.81/hr
|
$97,370
|
| Mississippi |
$46.14/hr
|
$95,980
|
| Florida |
$45.73/hr
|
$95,120
|
| Delaware |
$45.66/hr
|
$94,970
|
| Wyoming |
$45.54/hr
|
$94,730
|
| Oregon |
$45.51/hr
|
$94,670
|
| Tennessee |
$45.5/hr
|
$94,630
|
| Ohio |
$45.3/hr
|
$94,230
|
| District of Columbia |
$45.09/hr
|
$93,790
|
| Idaho |
$44.36/hr
|
$92,280
|
| Kansas |
$44.26/hr
|
$92,050
|
| Virginia |
$44.12/hr
|
$91,770
|
| Utah |
$44.04/hr
|
$91,590
|
| Pennsylvania |
$42.64/hr
|
$88,700
|
| Hawaii |
$41.52/hr
|
$86,350
|
| Indiana |
$41.31/hr
|
$85,930
|
| Alabama |
$41.14/hr
|
$85,560
|
| Iowa |
$41.05/hr
|
$85,380
|
| Arkansas |
$40.42/hr
|
$84,070
|
| Puerto Rico |
$40.36/hr
|
$83,950
|
| New York |
$40.13/hr
|
$83,470
|
| South Carolina |
$39.97/hr
|
$83,140
|
| Michigan |
$39.83/hr
|
$82,850
|
| Montana |
$39.51/hr
|
$82,170
|
| Maine |
$38.98/hr
|
$81,070
|
| Nevada |
$38.68/hr
|
$80,450
|
| South Dakota |
$38.55/hr
|
$80,180
|
| Maryland |
$38.36/hr
|
$79,790
|
| Wisconsin |
$37.81/hr
|
$78,640
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.49/hr
|
$77,980
|
| Kentucky |
$37.46/hr
|
$77,910
|
| New Mexico |
$37.34/hr
|
$77,670
|
| Louisiana |
$36.94/hr
|
$76,830
|
| Guam |
$36.9/hr
|
$76,760
|
| Massachusetts |
$36.52/hr
|
$75,960
|
| Washington |
$35.42/hr
|
$73,670
|
| Alaska |
$35.36/hr
|
$73,550
|
| New Jersey |
$34.35/hr
|
$71,440
|
| California |
$34.32/hr
|
$71,400
|
| West Virginia |
$32.45/hr
|
$67,500
|
Category: Computer specialists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
195,890 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$37.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.04 |
$28.11 |
$37.02 |
$46.58 |
$55.31 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$78,010 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,680 |
$58,460 |
$77,010 |
$96,890 |
$115,050 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
6.4% |
17.0% |
10.5% |
44.3% |
18.7% |
2.5% |
|
Computer specialists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$50.04/hr
|
$104,080
|
| Mississippi |
$45.76/hr
|
$95,190
|
| Colorado |
$39.12/hr
|
$81,360
|
| Missouri |
$39.03/hr
|
$81,190
|
| Alabama |
$37.74/hr
|
$78,490
|
| Connecticut |
$37.33/hr
|
$77,650
|
| Oklahoma |
$37.27/hr
|
$77,530
|
| Alaska |
$37.22/hr
|
$77,430
|
| Kansas |
$37.21/hr
|
$77,400
|
| Wyoming |
$37.03/hr
|
$77,030
|
| Idaho |
$36.89/hr
|
$76,740
|
| Delaware |
$36.75/hr
|
$76,440
|
| Utah |
$36.69/hr
|
$76,310
|
| Indiana |
$36.64/hr
|
$76,200
|
| Nevada |
$36.48/hr
|
$75,870
|
| Ohio |
$36.46/hr
|
$75,830
|
| New Hampshire |
$36.46/hr
|
$75,840
|
| South Dakota |
$36.31/hr
|
$75,530
|
| Virginia |
$36.1/hr
|
$75,100
|
| Nebraska |
$35.45/hr
|
$73,740
|
| Maine |
$35.23/hr
|
$73,290
|
| Arkansas |
$35.16/hr
|
$73,120
|
| North Dakota |
$35.08/hr
|
$72,970
|
| Oregon |
$34.97/hr
|
$72,730
|
| Massachusetts |
$34.91/hr
|
$72,610
|
| South Carolina |
$34.61/hr
|
$71,980
|
| West Virginia |
$34.06/hr
|
$70,850
|
| Puerto Rico |
$33.9/hr
|
$70,500
|
| Guam |
$33.45/hr
|
$69,580
|
| New Mexico |
$33.09/hr
|
$68,820
|
| Tennessee |
$32.66/hr
|
$67,930
|
| North Carolina |
$32.55/hr
|
$67,710
|
| Michigan |
$32.48/hr
|
$67,560
|
| District of Columbia |
$32.16/hr
|
$66,880
|
| Maryland |
$31.9/hr
|
$66,340
|
| Montana |
$31.81/hr
|
$66,170
|
| Washington |
$31.37/hr
|
$65,240
|
| New York |
$31.12/hr
|
$64,720
|
| Kentucky |
$30.45/hr
|
$63,340
|
| Hawaii |
$30.41/hr
|
$63,260
|
| Wisconsin |
$29.99/hr
|
$62,380
|
| Louisiana |
$29.73/hr
|
$61,830
|
| Pennsylvania |
$28.57/hr
|
$59,430
|
| Iowa |
$27.53/hr
|
$57,260
|
| New Jersey |
$27.35/hr
|
$56,890
|
| California |
$27.02/hr
|
$56,200
|
Category: Software Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers
| Total # Employed in the US |
195,890 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$37.5/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $20.04 |
$28.11 |
$37.02 |
$46.58 |
$55.31 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$78,010 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $41,680 |
$58,460 |
$77,010 |
$96,890 |
$115,050 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.6% |
6.4% |
17.0% |
10.5% |
44.3% |
18.7% |
2.5% |
|
