What is a game technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

If you love games and want to create your own, becoming a game technician may be the right career path for you. A game technician writes, develops, and tests games and game codes. They optimize games according to set goals and make modifications as necessary to improve the game design. Furthermore, they serve as the primary game testers to ensure that games are working according to plan and there are no bugs in the code.

A game technician may also be the person who inspects, troubleshoots, and repairs electronic gaming equipment, such as in an arcade or gaming center. Compared to the first type of game technician, this role requires mechanical skills instead of programming skills.

If you want to be a game technician that creates games, you would usually need a bachelor's or associate's degree in computer science, game development, interactive media, or another similar field. However, the programming skills that are needed in game development can be self-taught, which makes it possible for high school graduates or school leavers to attain this role.

The salary of a game technician varies widely. Many game technicians start with small projects, but over time, they join bigger companies or work on more sophisticated independent games as their skills and experience grow.

ScoreGame TechnicianUS Average
Salary
3.3

Avg. Salary $42,307

Avg. Salary $59,228

Diversity
6.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.54%

Asian 3.42%

Black or African American 10.51%

Hispanic or Latino 20.08%

Unknown 5.23%

White 57.22%

Gender

female 15.53%

male 84.47%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress Level
6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.4

Complexity Level is basic

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
4.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Game Technician career paths

Key steps to become a game technician

  1. Explore game technician education requirements

    Most common game technician degrees

    Associate

    32.0 %

    High School Diploma

    29.8 %

    Bachelor's

    27.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific game technician skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Preventative Maintenance36.10%
    Cleanliness31.00%
    Technical Equipment23.32%
    Hand Tools2.08%
    Customer Service1.64%
  3. Complete relevant game technician training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New game technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a game technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real game technician resumes.
  4. Research game technician duties and responsibilities

    • Facilitate escalations of complex desktop issues and manage cases through resolution.
    • Service and repair all HVAC equipment.
    • Handle large amounts of cash by also working POS systems.
    • Repair RMA units and report problems to customer services and engineer.
  5. Apply for game technician jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a game technician job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Game Technician Job

Zippi

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Average game technician salary

The average Game Technician salary in the United States is $42,307 per year or $20 per hour. Game technician salaries range between $27,000 and $65,000 per year.

Average Game Technician Salary
$42,307 Yearly
$20.34 hourly

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How do game technicians rate their job?

4/5

Out of 1 Game Technician reviews, 100% were positive.

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Based On 1 Ratings

Pay / Salary
2.0
Career Growth
4.0
Work/Life Balance
3.0
Overall Rating
4.0

Game Technician reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2024
Pros

Different set of problem solving issues every day- always new

Cons

Doesn't get the pay deserved based on necessity of the position in regards to success of overall business.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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