5 of the Hottest Jobs in the Gaming Industry

Almost all gamers dream of getting paid for their passion, but is a job in the gaming industry “ambition impossible,” or could it be a viable career option? Fortunately, in today’s tech-orientated jobs market, there are many possibilities for wannabe gaming specialists – both on the technical and business sides of the industry.

Most millennials and teenagers grew up playing video games, but if you don’t think this experience counts for something, then think again. Here are five gaming jobs that could earn you a lucrative income, proving that there is a place for gaming enthusiasts on the career ladder.

Game Designer

Don’t confuse the job of a game designer with that of an animator: game animation is another career path altogether. Game designers create the concepts that eventually become the video games you see on your screen, from the initial ideas to the storylines, characters and overall production.

Competition for this job is fierce, so you will need to showcase an impressive portfolio as well as years of work experience before you can land yourself a well-paid role. According to glassdoor.com, the average salary of a gaming designer in the United States is $73,924, so it could be well worth investing your time into.

Gaming Software Developer

The job of a gaming software developer (or gaming software engineer as they are also known) is to implement the designer’s vision and create the finished game. Software developers work with coders and programmers to convert designs into video game systems and can earn upwards of $100,000 a year in the United States: a salary worth pursuing.

Technical Support Specialist

Technical support specialists help gamers optimize the product that game companies create for their audience. As a support specialist, you will answer questions and help troubleshoot issues via online chat, email and over the phone for as much as $40,000 a year. You may sometimes be required to travel, so it’s worth investing in a vehicle. You can find used trucks for sale here.

Game Writer

Video game writers create the scripts and storylines for all types of games, including on-screen instructions and dialogue for game characters. The average annual salary for a game writer ranges from $41,000-$73,000. The job of a technical writer is slightly different, involving the putting together of instruction manuals and all accompanying documentation. There is also increasing demand for video game translators and interpreters who can convert character dialogue into different languages: an ideal job for multi-lingual gamers.

Game Tester

Working as a game tester may sound like a dream job, but it does require sound technical knowledge and is difficult to come across. Professional game testers provide quality assurance for the companies that create video games. Not only do they check that games function correctly, but they also review corresponding documents and identify problems and bugs in the programming. The information they find is then fed back to designers and developers to help them improve the game. Pay would be dependent on your location and the company you work for.