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The differences between game programmers and software 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 engineer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a software engineer has an average salary of $100,260, 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 engineer are java, python, and software development.
| Game Programmer | Software Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,000 | $100,260 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $48.20 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 21% |
| Number of jobs | 186,952 | 339,938 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| 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 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 programmers and software engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Programmer | Software Engineer | |
| Average salary | $94,000 | $100,260 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $134,000 | Between $73,000 And $136,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | San Bruno, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Start-up |
There are a few differences between a game programmer and a software engineer in terms of educational background:
| Game Programmer | Software Engineer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 73% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between game programmers' and software engineers' demographics:
| Game Programmer | Software Engineer | |
| Average age | 47 | 39 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 78.0% Female, 22.0% |
| 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, 4.4% 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% |