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The differences between game designers and software engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a game designer and a software engineer. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, which is higher than the $87,645 average annual salary of a game designer.
The top three skills for a game designer include unity, UI and game development. The most important skills for a software engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Game Designer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $87,645 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $42.14 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | 3% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 45,227 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A video game designer is responsible for making a concept of a video game and creating the storylines, scenarios, maps, character development, user interfaces, and in-game objectives. Typical responsibilities include adding computer scripting using computer software, which will then generate events, objects, commands, and characters that end-users can choose from to interact with during the game. Additionally, you will write code using different computer programming languages and designing characters, animation, and levels. To become a successful video game designer, you must be creative, innovative, and ambitious.
A software engineer is a computer science professional who is responsible for the development of information systems, designing and building computer systems software and applications software. They often prefer to call themselves as a software developer or computer programmer. They have substantial knowledge of programming languages, software development, and computer operating systems, and other technologies. They use these to turn a plan into a final output. They can create a design, test, and develop software based on the needs of their clients.
Game designers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Designer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $87,645 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $127,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Reno, NV | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Nevada | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a game designer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Game Designer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Graphic Design | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between game designers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Game Designer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 44 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.2% Female, 11.8% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 4.4% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% Asian, 34.0% White, 48.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |