In addition to employed game testers, there are also thousands of outside
testers. These are volunteers who test games in exchange for a copy of the
software. This type of experience can sometimes lead to a paid job later on.
Salaries vary based on factors such as the size of the game company and
the cost of living in the area.
"Most testers starting out are paid hourly," says Matthew Burns. He's a
senior producer at the University of Washington's Center for Game Science.
He's also a former tester.
"I'd say the rates are comparable to a retail or entry-level clerical job,"
says Burns. "More experience, being a test manager or lead tester, or doing
more technical work, can increase the pay."
Competition for testing jobs can be fierce. This is especially true for
testing positions that don't require previous work experience in the industry.
Volunteer experience, industry connections and a demonstrated passion for
video games can increase your chances of getting hired.
"Right now, we're not really hiring just anybody," says Nathan Pinard.
He's a QA manager for a game company called Ludia. "We have specific needs....
I'd say if you want qualified people with at least one year of experience
you won't get a lot of resumes, but [for] people that want to get their foot
in, there's probably a lot more."
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.