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The differences between game programmers and animators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-8 years to become a game programmer, becoming an animator takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a game programmer has an average salary of $94,000, which is higher than the $76,853 average annual salary of an animator.
The top three skills for a game programmer include unreal engine, game development and math. The most important skills for an animator are animation, motion capture, and storyboards.
| Game Programmer | Animator | |
| Yearly salary | $94,000 | $76,853 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $36.95 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 5% |
| Number of jobs | 186,952 | 551 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 2 |
A game programmer is a type of software engineer who works in the gaming industry. They write code for games and work closely with other departments like game design and animation. If they are the lead programmer, they may be expected to assign jobs and manage the whole development process. If they are not the lead, they may be expected to develop codes so the game has 2D and 3D graphics.
The animators are specialized artists who conceptualized ideas from their creative minds with technology applications. Animators cater to different specialties depending on their expertise. They used multiple techniques and tools to create a digital masterpiece. An animator is required to have an excellent time and project management skills to meet deadlines. They should also be detail-oriented and technology savvy to keep up with the latest trend in the digital market. Animators are required to have regular communication with the respective department for the updates or adjustments as needed.
Game programmers and animators have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Programmer | Animator | |
| Average salary | $94,000 | $76,853 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $134,000 | Between $52,000 And $112,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Las Vegas, NV |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Nevada |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Media |
There are a few differences between a game programmer and an animator in terms of educational background:
| Game Programmer | Animator | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Animation |
| Most common college | Harvard University | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between game programmers' and animators' demographics:
| Game Programmer | Animator | |
| Average age | 47 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 71.9% Female, 28.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 19.4% White, 62.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 4.3% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 7.5% White, 67.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |