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The differences between game programmers and software development engineers 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 a software development engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software development engineer has an average salary of $109,147, which is higher than the $94,000 average annual salary of a game programmer.
The top three skills for a game programmer include unreal engine, game development and math. The most important skills for a software development engineer are java, software development, and AWS.
| Game Programmer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,000 | $109,147 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $52.47 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 186,952 | 356,971 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 4 |
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.
A software development engineer is responsible for designing and developing software systems and applications based on clients' specifications and business needs. Software development engineers manage operating systems and analyze network codes to maintain the compatibility of the software applications and control systems. They also run diagnostic tests for every software structure to ensure smooth navigations and perform immediate troubleshooting for inconsistencies. A software development engineer must have a strong command of programming languages, as well as technological processes and analytical skills.
Game programmers and software development engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Programmer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,000 | $109,147 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $134,000 | Between $80,000 And $147,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Meta |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Technology |
There are a few differences between a game programmer and a software development engineer in terms of educational background:
| Game Programmer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between game programmers' and software development engineers' demographics:
| Game Programmer | Software Development Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 79.6% Female, 20.4% |
| 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, 4.7% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 8.4% Asian, 32.7% White, 49.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 8% |