How Much Do Game Testers Earn? - Circa Play (2023)

As mentioned before, game testers are very important to the gaming industry. They play games for various publishers and get paid per hour to find any kind of glitch or flaw in the games.

Their hours can vary greatly depending on how many people their company has assigned to test a certain product. Companies will either have internal teams that handle this or external companies they hire to help with testing.

The amount tester’s earn really varies from person to person and organization to organization. Some may even be hired as part-time employees while others are full time workers.

It is great to know what average game testers make so you can compare yourself to your peers and possibly increase your income!

In this article, I will go over some hard numbers about just how much money most game testers make per year. There are also regional differences in pay for game testers so I will include those too.

Sample job descriptions for game testers

As we have discussed, being a gamer is fabulous but testing games is not! That’s why most gamers cannot be full-time tester professionals.

Fortunately, there are ways to make money as a test user (or tester) of games. Many companies recruit individuals to play their new software products and then evaluate whether or not they like it enough to give feedback in the form of a review.

This is an easy way to get into the game industry because you do not need any formal training beyond just knowing how to use computers. It is also very lucrative since employers pay people to write reviews.

Furthermore, many sites offer a bounty system that rewards users for providing valuable information about a product through surveys or contests.

There are even some opportunities to earn extra income by writing your own opinion piece online about a topic related to gaming.

Multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work

As mentioned earlier, there are many ways to be a game tester. Some test games in development, some testing at retail stores, and some as full time positions. Regardless of what position you choose to pursue as a tester, how much money you make depends on two main things: Your hourly rate and the length of time you spend working.

The first one is quite simple – it’s your pay per hour! The more expensive an item or service is, the higher its price tag will go on the income statement for a job seeker looking to fill their position. For example, if a restaurant offers special discounts for regulars, then they will likely have higher average check totals than someone who does not.

Your hourly rate is also very important because it determines how many jobs applicants can take during off-hours or early mornings before going out for breakfast. More affluent individuals can afford to sleep well while still making a good living, but not everyone has that luxury.

Multiply your annual salary by the number of years of experience you have

As game testers, how much we make really depends on two things: how many games we test and what position we have in the company. There are three main positions for game tester including QA manager, quality assurance (QA) engineer, and product development director.

QA managers oversee the work of other game testers while also ensuring that everything goes according to plan when testing new games. QA engineers specifically focus on one area of video gaming such as storytelling or control design. They are very detail oriented and pay close attention to minute details.

As a product development director, you will be working with game developers to create engaging stories and experiences. You may even get assigned your own team of game devs!

All three of these positions require at least a bachelor’s degree and several months of professional experience. Plus, these individuals must be organized and able to prioritize their tasks correctly.

Finding out how much money you deserve as a game tester is just like any other profession — it varies wildly depending on who you speak with and what they have to say about your career. Luckily, there are some easy ways to find this information.

Most companies organize events or conferences where game testers can meet others in the field. Some of these events include game jams, tabletop gaming competitions, and industry conventions. By attending these gatherings, you will get an idea of the types of jobs and opportunities available to gamers.

Compute your annual profit or loss

As mentioned earlier, there are many ways to make money as a game tester. Depending on how you classify yourself as a tester, what types of games you test, and whether you are freelancer or full time, you can add up profits very quickly!

If you are just starting out as a tester, our beginner’s guide has some tips for getting started. There are also lots of other resources available, so do not feel that this information is sold out to established testers. In fact, most experienced testers have made or lost significant amounts of money in their testing career!

As with any job, income varies from person to person depending on several factors. Some reasons why game testers earn more include: longer hours, higher paying projects, and greater responsibility.

On the other hand, some reason why they may be paid less includes lack of experience on their part, being asked to complete tasks too easily, and having to deal with difficult clients who do not pay well.

Identify the most important factors that boost pay

There are many things that can influence how much you earn as a game tester, such as what testing position you hold, whether you are part of a union, and what areas of the game you test in.

However, beyond those external factors, there are some internal ones that can have an effect on your earnings too.

If you want to increase your income as a game tester, here are five tips for maximizing your compensation.

1. Become familiar with the games industry

This will not only help you understand why testers are paid less than developers, but it could also open up new opportunities for contract work or full-time positions.

By understanding the basics of the video gaming business, like what makes a good game, how consoles are organized, and how marketing works, you will be able to assess if a game is worth playing or not before investing time into it.

Play video games to earn money

A game tester is someone who tests out new games for their publishers in order to determine if they work well and are fun to play. They look for any potential problems or glitches that may exist while gamers try the product.

If a problem is found, the developer will usually fix it as quickly as possible since these issues can cost them time. Sometimes though, a bad reviewer will give poor feedback about the game which then does not help promote its sales.

Game testers get paid per hour of gameplay which varies depending on the job market at the time. Most people start working as game testers during their college years when student budgets allow.

As students, there are many resources available to learn more about how to be a game tester.

Become a member of a game testing group

As we mentioned before, not every company has in-house full time testers that are paid to play games and test out products. Most companies have either freelance or contract tester groups that they use for this.

Companies will usually advertise their position as game tester (or software quality assurance engineer, etc.) online via sites like LinkedIn and career pages. They may also publish job postings directly on websites such as Seek, Monster, Glassdoor, and so forth.

Join a testing community

As with any career, there are various ways to make money working as a game tester. Some people start their careers by simply sharing their experiences via blogs and other social media channels.

By writing about your experience as a tester, you may be creating an online course or eBook that others can purchase and learn from. You can also earn more through affiliate marketing where you get paid for referring products to potential buyers.

There are many websites that offer paying job opportunities for experienced testers who are looking for work. Many of these sites have you apply directly though their website, while some use pre-existing communities like OTRS (Open Test Result System) or CODA (Collaborative Online Disruption Agency) to find jobs matching peoples’ skills.

In both cases, being in the right community is crucial to finding employment. Make sure to evaluate whether those communities are truly open to new members and if they are active enough for there to be results.