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The differences between game programmers and web developers 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 web developer takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a game programmer has an average salary of $94,000, which is higher than the $78,975 average annual salary of a web developer.
The top three skills for a game programmer include unreal engine, game development and math. The most important skills for a web developer are javascript, html css, and HTML.
| Game Programmer | Web Developer | |
| Yearly salary | $94,000 | $78,975 |
| Hourly rate | $45.19 | $37.97 |
| Growth rate | -7% | 13% |
| Number of jobs | 186,952 | 227,881 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 47 | 37 |
| 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 web developer is responsible for designing and maintaining a website to attract customers and direct web traffic. Web developers' duty also includes analyzing software and database to develop new applications. A web developer must have extensive knowledge of programming languages and technology solutions to provide the best web design services for the clients, following their specifications, and submitting projects on or before the deadline. Web developers should have excellent time-management and decision-making skills to do tasks efficiently and accurately.
Game programmers and web developers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Game Programmer | Web Developer | |
| Average salary | $94,000 | $78,975 |
| Salary range | Between $65,000 And $134,000 | Between $60,000 And $103,000 |
| Highest paying City | Novato, CA | Bothell, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Meta | |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Professional |
There are a few differences between a game programmer and a web developer in terms of educational background:
| Game Programmer | Web Developer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 79% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Computer Science | Computer Science |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between game programmers' and web developers' demographics:
| Game Programmer | Web Developer | |
| Average age | 47 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.8% Female, 10.2% | Male, 78.2% Female, 21.8% |
| 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, 6.4% Unknown, 6.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 15.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 9% |