Data & Research
 
* ELMI Occupation Profile - Video Game Designers *
 
Video Game Designers
(O*NET 15-1255.01, SOC 15-1255)
What they do
Design core features of video games. Specify innovative game and role-play mechanics, story lines, and character biographies. Create and maintain design documentation. Guide and collaborate with production staff to produce games as designed.
 
Also called:
Design Director, Designer, Environmental Artist, Game Design Consultant, Game Designer, Gamemaster, Level Designer, World Designer
 
 
Wages
Web and Digital Interface Designers*
Vermont - 2023
Percentile1HourlyYearly
10% $ 29.88   $62,150  
25% $ 36.36   $75,630  
Median $ 46.39   $96,490  
75% $ 46.39   $96,490  
90% $ 47.76   $99,340  
 
Average $ 42.92   $89,280  
* You're seeing information for "Web and Digital Interface Designers" because it includes "Video Game Designers" for which wage information is not available.
1 What are Percentile Wages?
More at CareerOneStop
 
Industries of Employment
Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers*
United States - 2020
IndustryPercent of total
  • Professional, scientific, and technical services
27%
  • Self-employed workers
18%
  • Publishing industries (except Internet)
9%
  • Educational services; state, local, and private
6%
  • Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
4%
* You're seeing information for "Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers" because it includes "Video Game Designers" for which industries of employment information is not available.
More at BLS
 
Knowledge
People in this career often know a lot about:
  • Design
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
  • Communications and Media
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Psychology
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
More at O*NET
 
Skills
People in this career often have these skills:
  • Programming
    Writing computer programs for various purposes.
  • Active Listening
    Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical Thinking
    Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Reading Comprehension
    Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Complex Problem Solving
    Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
More at O*NET
 
Interests
People in this career often prefer these work environments:
  • Artistic
    Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
  • Enterprising
    Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.
What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler
 
Work Styles
People in this career will do well at jobs that need:
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
    Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
  • Achievement/Effort
    Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
More at O*NET
 
Tasks
On the job, you would:
  • Balance and adjust gameplay experiences to ensure the critical and commercial success of the product.
  • Devise missions, challenges, or puzzles to be encountered in game play.
  • Create core game features, including storylines, role-play mechanics, and character biographies for a new video game or game franchise.
  • Solicit, obtain, and integrate feedback from design and technical staff into original game design.
  • Conduct regular design reviews throughout the game development process.
More at O*NET
 
Related Occupations
More at O*NET
 
 
Career Video
Watch at CareerOneStop with transcript or at YouTube.
 
Projected Employment
Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers*
 Vermont
2020 employment 435
2030 employment 517
Annual percent change
(compounded)
1.7%
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations)
42
* You're seeing information for "Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers" because it includes "Video Game Designers" for which projected employment information is not available.
More at Occupational Projections
 
Education and Experience:
Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers*
  • Typical education needed for entry
    Bachelor's degree
  • Work experience in a related occupation
    None
  • Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
    None
* You're seeing information for "Web Developers and Digital Interface Designers" because it includes "Video Game Designers" for which education and experience information is not available.
Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications
 
Physical Work Activity
Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
 
  • Physical activity is Seldom Important
  • Level of activity is Very Low
Importance
Low   High
Level
Compare Occupations at O*NET
 
Job Zone
Considerable Preparation Needed
  • Specific Vocational Preparation Range
    (7.0 to < 8.0) - A typical worker will require over 2 years up to and including 4 years of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP
 
Education Level
How much education do most people in this career have?
Education level Percent of
U.S. Workers
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate
  0%
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate
  0%
Bachelor's degree   55%
Associate's degree   10%
Certificate or some college,
no degree
  10%
High school diploma
or equivalent
  15%
Less than high school diploma   10%
More at O*NET
 
Abilities
People in this career often have talent in:
  • Fluency of Ideas
    The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Originality
    The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Information Ordering
    The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
More at O*NET
 
Work Activities
In general, what you might do:
  • Thinking Creatively
    Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Working with Computers
    Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Getting Information
    Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
More at O*NET
 
Detailed Work Activities
What you might do in a day:
  • Design video game features or details.
  • Collaborate with others to determine design specifications or details.
  • Test software performance.
  • Document design or development procedures.
  • Communicate project information to others.
More at O*NET
 
Other Resources
  • CareerOneStop
    resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
  • O*NET Online
    nation's primary source of occupational information
 
O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 28.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

BLS

This page includes information produced in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics and State Occupational Projections programs.

 
 
 
 
Vermont.gov State of Vermont Department of Labor