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The differences between game programmers and systems programmers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a game programmer and a systems programmer. Additionally, a systems programmer has an average salary of $96,017, 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 systems programmer are provide technical assistance, video conferencing, and C++.
| Game Programmer | Systems Programmer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,000 | $96,017 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $46.16 |
| Growth rate | -7% | -7% |
| Number of jobs | 186,952 | 257,681 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
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 systems programmer is responsible for managing and installing software systems and applications to the company's computer networks to support the efficiency of business functions and operations. Systems programmers coordinate with the systems analyst to conduct quality checks and running configuration tests to ensure the stability of applications and avoid downtimes. They also create resolution reports, design servers, and upgrade network infrastructure as often as needed. A systems programmer must have excellent communication and technical skills, especially the expert command of programming languages and codes.
Game programmers and systems programmers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Programmer | Systems Programmer | |
| Average salary | $94,000 | $96,017 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $134,000 | Between $66,000 And $138,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Novato, CA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | California |
| Best paying company | Meta | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Finance |
There are a few differences between a game programmer and a systems programmer in terms of educational background:
| Game Programmer | Systems Programmer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between game programmers' and systems programmers' demographics:
| Game Programmer | Systems Programmer | |
| Average age | 47 | 47 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 84.0% Female, 16.0% |
| 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, 5.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 14.9% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |