Video Game Designer - Career Profile

What Does a Video Game Designer Do? 

Video game designers use a combination of technology, science, engineering, mathematics, design, art, animation, and more to create computer and video games for a variety of gaming consoles. Some of the best-selling video game consoles include PlayStation and PlayStation 2,3, and 4, Nintendo DS, Game Boy/Game Boy Color, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. The video games that designers create rake in billions of dollars in revenue each year.

Video game designers may write code using various computer programming languages, some have project management duties, and others may also test early versions of video games.

Where Do Video Game Designers Work?

In addition to the games industry, video game designers may create interactive games for the mobile technology industry, education, advertising and marketing, web design, and many businesses. However, most video game designers work for gaming companies.

What is the Job Outlook for Video Game Designers?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides employment and salary information for software developers. This includes applications and systems developers. Video game designers are most closely related to applications software developers. Information for this group should give aspiring designers an idea of what to expect in the areas of employment growth and earning potential.

Find a school

Employment of applications developers is projected to grow 31% for the 2016-2026 decade. This is much faster than the average for all occupations. This increase means that the population will increase from an impressive 831,300 to 1,086,600 by 2026, resulting in 255,400 new jobs nationwide. The main reason for the growth for software applications developers is a large increase in the demand for computer software. The need for new applications on smart phones and tablets will help increase the demand for applications software developers.

In the games industry, consumers will continue to demand more realistic video games as studios continue to push the envelope. The result? The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Economists Incorporated report that the game industry is growing four times faster than the U.S. economy and annual job growth increased more than 13 times the rate of the U.S. labor market between 2009-2012 alone.

The states with the highest employment level in this occupation include:

• California - 148,550   
• Texas - 71,260
• Washington - 53,860 
• New York - 52,640    
• New Jersey - 46,930

Places such as Montana (990), Mississippi and Vermont (both 910), Hawaii (720), Alaska (360), Wyoming (290) have some of the lowest employment levels for applications software developers.

Industries with the highest employment levels for applications software developers include:

• Computer Systems Design and Related Services - 320,220 
• Software Publishers - 87,830 
• Management of Companies and Enterprises - 47,140
• Other Information Services - 35,070 
• Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services – 33,920

Note that the video game industry in the U.S. consists of thousands of companies supporting well over 200,000 jobs. Within the top states for software developers are some of the hottest metro areas for video game designers. They include:

• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
• Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Other Schools to Consider:

Request info

CG Spectrum College of Digital Art & Animation

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs: 

• 2D Animation
• 3D Animation
• 3D Modeling
• Concept Art
• Digital Illustration
• Game Art & Animation
• Game Design
• Game Programming
• VFX Compositing and FX
• Real-time 3D & Virtual Production
• Game Development - Programming, Design, Game Art & Animation, Real-time 3D & Virtual Production

Animation Career Review Rankings: 

• Top 25 International Animation Training Programs (#25) - 2022

How Much Do Video Game Designers Make?

Most job websites offer salary information for game designers. However, reported salaries vary greatly by site. PayScale, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter report that video game designers earn between $39.2k-$101k, $51.1k-$102k, and $77k-$400k per year, respectively. However, the BLS reports that the median annual wage for applications software developers is $103,620. The highest paid applications software developers average more than $161,290 annually and the lowest paid average less than $61,660 annually.

Note that individual salaries vary based on geographic location, industry, type and size of company, and many other factors—including whether the designer is salaried or works independently. For example, independent applications software developers are the highest paid professionals in the industry. They average $271,150, reports the BLS. Other top paying industries for this occupation are (in order):

• Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing - $130,460
• Cable and Other Subscription Programming - $125,510
• Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities - $125,050
• Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing - $123,450

The highest paying states for applications software developers are:

• Washington - $131,790
• California - $127,950
• New York - $116,830
• Virginia - $113,690
• District of Columbia - $112,510

Average salaries in most states are $80,000 or higher, and very few dip below $75,000. Salaries for the top metro areas for developers are:

• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA - $117,010
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA - $133,590
• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $131,720
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $144,050
• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - $111,010
• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV - $117,450
• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA - $114,900
• Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH - $110,240
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA - $106,450
• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI - $97,780

The top paying industries for applications software developers are:

1. Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers  - $271,150
2. Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing - $130,460
3. Cable and Other Subscription Programming - $125,510
4. Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities - $125,050
5. Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing - $123,450

Pay for the top five industries with the highest levels of employment for applications software developers:

1. Computer Systems Design and Related Services - $106,830
2. Software Publishers – $117,270        
3. Management of Companies and Enterprises - $106,260
4. Other Information Services - $121,290         
5. Data Processing, Hosting, and Related Services – $111,100

How Do I Become a Video Game Designer?

Most employers prefer to hire video game designers with a bachelor’s degree or higher in areas such as games and interactive entertainment, game design, game development, game design and development, game programming or computer science, software development, software engineering, computer systems, computer animation, or mathematics with an option or focus in games.

In addition to a degree, employers require a minimum of two years’ experience for intermediate positions. For upper level positions, employers typically require an advanced degree, plus three to five years’ professional experience in the industry. For entry-level positions, a degree plus experience through an internship or other support position is acceptable.

Which Schools Offer Programs for Aspiring Video Game Designers?

Hundreds of schools offer programs for aspiring video game designers. Some of the best include:

• Brigham Young University, BS Computer Science, Animation Emphasis, Graphics Specialization
• Carnegie Mellon University, Bachelor of Computer Science and Arts (BCSA), Concentration in Game Design, BFA, Concentration Time Based Media, Focus Game Arts, Animation, Bioart, Computational and Interactive Art, Tangible Media, Video and Performance, Tactical Media. Collaborative Studios including Game Engine Programming offered by the Robotics Institute, Research Issues in Game Development offered by the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) at CMU, and Programming for Game Designers—also offered by the ETC.
• DePaul University, BFA, MFA, Game Design, BS Computer Games Development, Game Design, Game Programming, MS Game Programming
• DigiPen Institute of Technology, BA Game Design, BS Computer Science and Game Design, BS in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation (BS in RTIS), five-year BS in RTIS/MS in Computer Science, Game Design Minor
• Drexel University, BS Game Design and Production
• Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT NYC), BA Animation, Interactive Media & Game Design
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS, MS Comparative Media Studies (CMS)-Games and Interactive Media “Cluster,” BS, MS Computer Science and Engineering, BS in Brain & Cognitive Science for those interested in psychological games and behavioral change, Minors CMS-Games and Interactive Media, Computer Science
• New York University, Game Design BFA, Game Center MFA, Minor Game Design
• Northeastern University, BS Computer Science/Game Development, BFA Game Art and Animation, Minor Game Design, MS Game Science and Design
• Rochester Institute of Technology, BS, MS Game Design and Development, BS New Media Interactive Development, Minors Game Design & Development (GAMEDD-MN), Game Design (GAMED-MN)
• Southern Methodist University, BFA Art/Masters of Interactive Technology (M.I.T) in Digital Game Development, Specializations-Design, Production, or Programming for Games, Professional Certificate Digital Game Development, Specializations-Art Creation, Level Design, Production, Software Development
• University of California Santa Cruz, BS Computer Science: Computer Game Design, MS Games & Playable Media, MS, PhD degrees Computational Media or Computer Science with a Games Focus, Interdisciplinary BA Art & Design: Games & Playable Media (AGPM), MFA Digital Arts and New Media (DANM) with a Playable Media Research Option
• University of Central Florida + Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA), BA Digital Media-Specialization Game Design, MS Interactive Entertainment: Art, Production, Programming Tracks, MA Digital Media-Visual Language and Interactive Media
• University of Southern California, BS Computer Science (Games), MS Computer Science (Game Development), PhD Computer Science with a Game Design and Development or Virtual Reality research area, BA Interactive Entertainment, MFA Interactive Media, MFA Interactive Media (Games and Health), MA Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games and Health), Minors Game Design, Game Animation, Game Audio, Game Entrepreneurism, Game User Research, Themed Entertainment, Video Game Design and Management, Video Game Programming, 3D Computer Modeling and Graphics, Computer Science      
• University of Utah, Master of Entertainment Arts and Engineering (MEAE): Game Arts, Game Engineering, Game Production, Technical Art Tracks, BS Games (BSG), Games Minor, MBA/Masters of Entertainment Arts & Engineering (MBA/MEAE); Emphasis Entertainment Arts and Engineering (EAE) for the following programs: BS, five-year BS/MS, BA Film and Media Arts, Minor Computer Science

Awesome Game Fact: Did you know that games began to appear almost as soon as computers appeared? In the late 1960s, Spacewar! was created, partly as a way of experimenting with one of the earliest computers, the PDP-1, developed by Digital Electronic Corporation. -Gale Cengage Learning, Macmillan Reference