Game Tester Salary

The advent of internet has given wings to some fascinating industries, without which we would have missed breathtaking movies, stories and the brilliance of visual arts. For instance, the animation industry has carved a niche for itself in a relatively short period of existence. Be it the penguins of Happy Feet or the mammoths of Ice Age, animation has changed the rules of the entertainment market!! And parallel to it, has been the exponential growth of the video game industry! Yes, video games, something that fascinates children, teens, youth and even our parents! Vying the phenomenal growth of this industry, the need of game testers and game designers has been immense and that has compelled companies to hunt for some talented game testers.

Responsibilities
Game testers are professionals who play games that are designed by companies. The game testers have to analyze the different stages in the games, detect any bugs so that the games are error free, before they are released to the general public. This is important as any error after release, degrades the image of the gaming company.

Requirements
Many teens have a craving to make a career in the billion dollar industry of video gaming. However, parents are skeptical about success in this field. But the fact is that video gaming industry has such a huge market in today's time that career opportunities in this field are no less than other traditional careers like engineering, medicine etc. And if the salary is a concern for parents, then they should do proper research, as game testers earn quite a decent pay package and that is just the beginning. With further advances in this career, salaries increase. Let's discuss what are the requirements to become a game tester.

Age Factor
Many gaming firms hire those game testers that have completed at least 18 years of age. However, you will be happy to know that this age factor varies for companies. So, while you apply for them, inquire about their selection procedure and eligibility criteria.

How Crazy You are About Video Games?
It's obvious that when you are called for an interview to the company, in which you've applied, you'll be asked questions like how many video games you've played in your life? What are your favorite games? Which types of games have you played. Ensure that you've genuine interest in video gaming. It should be more than a habit. You must be aware of various games and must be able to come up with ideas for innovation and improvement of the game.

Work Experience
The most important criteria by which companies select game testers is the experience in handling and detecting bugs in games. Nowadays, there are many companies that upload online games that are intended for game testing and are just like the Do-it-yourself kit for learners. By practicing at home you can get good amount of experience and that you can list in your resume. You can acquire experience by frequently practicing on the web too.

Salary
Surprisingly the salary for game tester is very good although the fact is that you get paid for playing video games! The salary range annually is usually between USD 18000 TO USD 35,000 and with hard work and work experience, it can go up to USD 60,000, just in the first few years! Not all gamers work on a yearly contractual basis, in fact very few of them work for such firms. Mostly, the game testers work on an hourly basis or job-by-job basis. This means that they work on a, per game basis. So, they are paid on a weekly/hourly basis. Generally, they earn, on an average, about USD 16 per hour. If on is very talented, he/she can make up to USD 30 per hour. So, if we calculate the average salary as USD 30 per hour, we'll find that they earn a decent pay. For instance, if an individual is working on an average 40 hours per week, then their income would USD 30 X 40, USD 1200 and in a year they can earn 52 weeks X USD 1200, that equals USD 62,400!!

So, is the salary range suitable for you to get involved in it professionally? Think if you become an expert in game testing, you can double your wages doing your work faster! So, be it a Xbox 360 game or a Playstation 3 (PS3) game, if you've the passion for gaming, this new field is ready to welcome you with both hands! So, isn't the video games calling?! All the best for a flourishing career!