Make Money Playing Video Games

🎮 How can I make money playing video games? 

Here are the 12 best ways you can make money playing video games…

Below we also listed 29 more real ways to make money in the video game industry.

Video Game Content Creator

Your job is to create engaging content that resonates with the gaming community through videos, blogging, or writing articles.

As a video game content creator, you can focus on things like:

• Making game tutorials
• Reviewing games
• Unboxing gaming equipment to play
• Doing full playthroughs of games
• Entertaining your community through live-streams
• Documenting PC builds

The Rad Brad is most famous for his full playthroughs of video games. Below is his Spider-Man video with has over 15.5 million views. He earns $725.00 – $11,600 per day through his videos, according to Social Blade.

🤑 How much can you make as a video game content creator?

This depends on your personal motivation to find work.

There are top earners on YouTube such as Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins who earned $17 million in 2019, according to Forbes.

Here’s a popular video from Tyler with a whopping 45 million views that showcases his talents…

Also a couple of gaming YouTubers we’ve profiled:

• PewDiePie

• Gaming YouTuber

• $4.85 million estimated monthly revenue

• DanTDM

• Gaming YouTuber

• $1.5 million monthly revenue via YouTube

Be warned though: YouTube, in particular, has a tough barrier to entry when it comes to generating revenue. More on that further down.

🎮 How can I make money as a video game content creator?

Several ways:

Who hires video game content creators?

Most content creators are self-starters who host their work on websites such as YouTube and Twitch or utilise job board sites. But you might find some jobs via:

• FlexJobs
• Indeed
• Simply Hired
• Upwork
• Virtual Vocations

Live-Streamer

I’ve been a live-streamer for many years now. As a streamer, it’s your job to entertain and look after your community. 

Good news is that the barrier to entry is low but if you’re starting out with streaming you will not earn much straight away as you must build up an audience first.

For example, SSSniperWolf’s live-stream of Among Us has over 3 million views but she has an audience of 23 million. It’s estimated that she earns €1.2M – €19.3m per year from her videos.

The three biggest live streaming platforms for gamers are:

• Twitch
• Facebook
• YouTube

More info on each platform below.

Twitch

Twitch has been in the business a very long time and is usually the first port of call for new streamers.

🤑 How much can I earn on Twitch?

This very much depends on your popularity and your own ability to hustle while maintaining a community. 

Top streamers on Twitch earn quite a lot each year, such as $1.2m for xQcOW and $500,000 for Pokimane (source).

🎮 How can I make money on Twitch?

Streamers must be affiliates and are paid once a certain threshold has been made. They make money playing games on Twitch through:

• Paid subscribers
  A viewer can pay a between a $4.99 – $24.99 a month to support a channel.
• Receiving “Bits”
  Bits are bought on Twitch and are given to a streamer to show your support.
• Rolling ads
  These are ads that can be played by the streamer during a stream.

You can also make money through selling merchandise, affiliate links or direct donations which are done through a third-party service like PayPal, PeachPay or DonorBox.

Facebook Gaming

If you’re already familiar with building up communities and friendships on Facebook, then the Facebook Gaming hub is probably a good shout. 

🎮 How can I make money through Facebook Gaming?

While it’s hard to find information on who the top earners are, popular streamer Anthony Helm (Helms World) says he makes a “very comfortable living off Facebook Gaming alone”.

Streamers on Facebook earn money through:

• Donations
• Subscriptions 
• Facebook’s virtual currency, “Stars”
  Viewers can buy Stars and send them to streamers.

To earn stars and subscriptions you must be signed up to the company’s Level Up Program. 

YouTube

Having a successful YouTube Channel is a gamer’s dream.

With channels like iHasCupquake absolutely killing it in terms of content, it’s no wonder many want a slice of the action.

🎮 How can I make money on YouTube as a gamer?

Unfortunately, while getting started is straightforward, earning money on YouTube is harder compared to Twitch and Facebook Gaming. 

To start earning you must become a YouTube Partner.

For this, you must have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4000 hours worth of watch time on your channel within a 12-month period.

However, it is possible and top earners include Evan Fong (VanossGaming) who has a net worth of around $25 million.  Below is his most popular video on YouTube which has over 60 million views…

Similar to Twitch, YouTubers can also make money through selling merchandise, affiliate links or donations.

Compete in Gaming Tournaments

You don’t need to be an eSport legend to take part in video game tournaments across the country. 

Being a competitor usually means that you’re tackling the competition at smaller tournaments held at conventions or online.

🤑 How much can I make from entering gaming tournaments?

This is a fun way to get paid while playing.

Depending on how popular the event is and the place you rank, you could earn hundreds of dollars for each win.

🎮 How can I make money competing in gaming tournaments?

• Winning or placing in competitions
  It could be solo, duo or team competitions.
• Sponsorships
  For example, equipment, energy drinks or businesses.
• Selling Merchandise
  Team or solo merchandise.

Where to find gaming tournaments?

Some tournaments are free to enter, while others have an entry fee.

• Facebook Gaming
• Game Battles
• Gamerz Arena

Quality Assurance Tester | QA Tester

Video game companies often need independent input from people not directly involved with the game to tell developers what works and what doesn’t. 

🎮 What does a Quality Assurance Tester do?

• Play through different designs, character builds, levels and modes
• Report any glitches, bugs or errors that occur
• Report about how they feel while playing the game
• Actively try and “break” the game to see where things could go wrong for a user
• Plays a game multiple times until they find nothing wrong

🤑 How much can I make from QA jobs?

As a game tester, you can make on average $36 per hour or even as high as $58, according to ZipRecruiter.

However, your pay may depend on the following factors:

• Whether you’re working for a AAA studio, through an agency or for an indie developer
• If you’re paid hourly or have a salary
• What platforms you play on (more platforms, more opportunities)
• Your own experience as a tester

Who hires QA testers?

If you’d like to work at a larger studio or with an indie developer you can browse job boards like FlexJobs or individual games companies for open jobs.

If you’re looking for work keep an eye out for opportunities on:

• BetaBound
• BetaFamily
• FlexJobs
• GBTN
• iGameLab
• Indeed
• Player Research
• PlaytestCloud

eBook Games Guide Writer

As a writer, you may be asked by a company to write an eBook guide or write one yourself.

It’s much faster to create an eBook from scratch and you’ll often see people popping out video game books quickly. 

As a games guide creator, it’s your job to expertly bring people through as many aspects of a particular game as possible.

🤑 How much can I earn as an eBook writer?

This is more dependent on sales than wage.

However, salary-wise you can earn on average $35 an hour or a whopping $120 per hour on the higher end, according to ZipRecruiter.

🤔 How can I get started as a gaming eBook writer?

Occasionally you might find this kind of job posted on sites like FlexJobs.

If you want to write a gaming ebook and earn money selling it yourself, this Udemy course should help you get started…

Video Games Journalist

People look to games journalists for insight knowledge of the industry be that through news pieces, blog posts, commentary, podcasts or breaking news.

🤑 How much can I make as a games journalist?

This can be a very lucrative career where the average pay is $24 per hour but can boost up to $60 on the higher end, according to ZipRecruiter.

The good news is that if you’re a freelancer you can pitch to multiple people. 

How can I make money as a games journalist?

• Write for a games site
• Cover games on digital radio
• Create a news podcast
• Writer for news organisations
• Create video game documentaries
• Get supporters on Patreon

Journalist and documentary maker Danny O’Dwyer of NoClip is well known for creating compelling video game documentaries.

He makes more than $23,000 per month through Patreon. His documentary on DOOM has over 2.4 million views…

Who hires games journalists?

Many journalists are freelancers that pitch their ideas to various news organisations or write for themselves on their own websites. You might find the occasional job posted on these sites:

• FlexJobs
• GamesIndustry.biz
• IGN
• Simply Hired
• VGJobs
• Virtual Vocations

Video Games Podcaster

One of the most rewarding ways to make money playing video games is through podcasting. Your knowledge of the game is part of the experience. 

🤑 How much can I make as a games podcaster?

Podcasters earn on average $42 per hour or up to as much as $79, says ZipRecruiter.

How much you earn from a podcast depends on a few things:

• How many people listen to the podcast?
• Are you riding solo or commissioned by a business?
• How many people are on the podcast team?
• How saturated is your gaming niche?
• Do you have a sponsor?

🎮 How can I earn money as a podcaster?

Many podcasters run their business through Patreon as a way to earn money. You can also:

• Get sponsors
• Earn tips through PayPal or Ko-Fi
• Earn through affiliate marketing
• Paid subscriptions
• Premium bonus content (through sites like Patreon)

Depending on your own influence as a podcaster, you may also get booked to host events like What’s Good Games co-founder Andrea Rene.

In 2017, What’s Good Games was earning $5,300 a month from over 800 patrons but now has over 1000 patrons. Below is Andrea Rene’s host reel from just some of the presenting gigs she’s done in the gaming industry…

Video Game Bodyguard

A game bodyguard is like a real-life bodyguard in that it’s their job is to keep their client safe while they play video games like Escape from Tarkov.

Tasks as a game bodyguard can include:

• Shielding the player from enemy fire
• Locating objectives/items for the player
• Guiding the player around the map
• Making sure the player survives!

🤑 How much can I make as a personal bodyguard?

This is not a common job by any means and therefore it’s hard to gauge how much you can make.

Player socwork on Fiverr charges $15 for a 90-minute session to be your bodyguard and your live guide and boosts it up to $25 for more premium services.

Similar to a game coach, if you offer more than just bodyguard services and teach players about game mechanics, you can expect to earn more. 

Where can I find work?

As this is such a niche job, you will more than likely have to advertise your skills on websites like Fiverr or create your own website.

Video Game Coach

One of the coolest ways to start earning money by playing video games is by coaching on your favourite games like League of Legends or Call of Duty.

🤑 How much can I make as a video game coach?

Many coaches are hired privately and can charge anything from $30 per hour to $60 on average; many make much more as the video game coaching is a billion-dollar business. 

Where can I find work as a coach?

Those who are looking for coaches are often solo players or eSport professionals. You can advertise your talents on:

• Fiverr
• Gamer Coach
• Gamer Sensei
• ProGuides

Indeed and Simply Hired are job boards where you might also find game coaching jobs.

eSport Professional Gamer

One of the best things about playing video games is that you don’t need a qualification to play them.

eSport Pros are hardcore players and usually focus on specific games like League of Legends, Fortnite or Dota 2.

🤑 How much can I make as an eSports Pro?

Millions! 💰 No joke. 

But you have to be at the very top of your game and usually part of a team that regularly enter tournaments.

The average eSports pay is $25 per hour.

The global esports revenue topped $1 billion in 2019, and the same year gamer Jesse Vainikka (known as JerAx) earned over $3.1 million which was around $8,667 a day.

How can I make money as an eSports Player?

• Winning the prize pool in a tournament
• Through your team salary
• Getting brand sponsorships
• Appearing at conventions

Note: Professional eSports players in popular teams sign a contract and earn a salary for their participation but these players may also win bonuses for winning league titles.

For example, this gamer earns quite a lot from online tournaments…

• Will "Rush" Wierzba

• Professional Gamer

• $15,300 average monthly winnings

Speedrunner

Speedrunners complete games as quickly as possible usually with agreed constraints as outlined on Speedrun.com. 

🤑 How much can I expect to earn as a speedrunner?

This depends on your own popularity and ability to entertain. Most Speedrunners broadcast on Twitch and earn money through donations or by entering tournaments. 

In 2018, Twitch Rivals ran a Mega Man 11 race with a whopping $25,000 prize pool.

🤔 Who hires speedrunners?

No one really hires speedrunners. Instead, it’s up to you to find work that showcases your talents. This may be done through live-streaming, getting signed on to entertain at a convention or hired by a media corporation like IGN.

Note: Speedrunning brings in millions each year through events such as Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ) and RPG Limit Break. Both are charity events but Speedrunners submit their runs and it’s often here that their profiles are elevated to the masses.

Below, Resident Evil developers react to speedrunner Hazeblade’s run. Hazeblade gained massive popularity through his performance at AGDQ 2019 which now has over 1 million views.

Game Developers

Though not strictly involved with playing games, a game developer must understand the core mechanics of the game.

🤑 How much can I make as a game developer?

This is a job that requires quite a lot of technical skills. The average hourly rate is $39 per hour but you can earn up to $69.95, according to ZipRecruiter.

🤔 Who hires games developers?

For newbies or indie developers, this is often a solo project where you are your own boss. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make it. 

Take, for example, solo developer Concerned Ape (Eric Barone) known for the massive hit Stardew Valley which has sold over 10 million copies across all platforms as of 2020. 

Most developer jobs will be found through game studios such as:

• Electronic Arts
• Microsoft
• Nintendo
• PlayStation
• Rockstar Games
• Ubisoft
• Valve

We’ve also seen some video game developer / programmer jobs on FlexJobs.

Another cool example of teens making money by playing games is through the massive online hit Roblox. Anyone can develop games for the platform and earn money, according to a NYT article:

Roblox said it has more than 2 million developers, 345,000 of whom make money and who split their profits 50-50 with the company. Dozens of the top developers make millions of dollars, the company said, and top games in the past have generated an average of $2 million to $3 million a year.

• More about earning money on Roblox

😎 29 more real ways you can make money in the video game industry

While the below jobs don’t necessarily require you to play games, they are still core parts of the billion-dollar industry.

Your best chance of finding these kinds of jobs is via sites like:

Voice Over Artist (VO)

• $31 per hour average pay

A voice over artist lends their vocal skills to create vibrant characters.

It is a highly-skilled job that seems hard to break into. If you want to give this a go, I would recommend that you connect with smaller games studios like mobile developers or crowdfunded games on Kickstarter.

Composer

• $25 per hour average pay

Some of the most emotive and thrilling moments in a video game are down to the music.

As a composer, it’s your job to create the soundtrack to the game. Creativity is a must!

Below is a presentation with Eimear Noone, an Irish video game composer for The Legend of Zelda, Overwatch and World of Warcraft. She was the first woman to conduct at the Oscars.

Game Community Moderator

• $18 per hour average pay

A mod oversees or works with a team to look after a community be it answering peoples’ queries in relation to game issues or simply moderating conversations.

Tech Support for a Games Company

• $21 per hour average pay

Similar to a moderator, this job requires you to understand the nitty-gritty when it comes to the technical aspects of a game. 

Be it liaising to squash bugs or finding out what exactly has gone wrong for a player, tech support tends to look after more complicated queries.

Storyboard Artist

• $35 per hour average pay

A storyboard artist maps out the visual elements to a game by adding structure. 

Your job is to make sure each aspect of the story within the game makes sense. This creative job requires you to be a skilled storyteller as well as an artist to portray your ideas.

Fan Merch Seller

What if you are an artistic person and love showcasing your creations to the world?

Whether it be setting up an Etsy shop or selling your designs on RedBubble, there are many players that create cool merch for video game fandoms.

Translator

• $23 per hour average pay

As a video game translator, you’re expected to translate concepts from one language to another ensuring that all the nuances are kept from culture to culture.

Foley Artist

• $20 per hour average pay

Ever wonder how you’re getting super immersed within a game?

It is the artist’s job to reproduce everyday sounds e.g. footsteps or breaking glass to enhance the final audio quality. Here’s how Foley Artists make video game sounds using items like leather straps, fur and sand…

Graphic Designer

• $23 per hour average pay

What do you think of when you imagine Super Mario or Sonic the Hedgehog?

Your job as a graphic designer is to convey the visual brand of the video game company and their games.

Game Director

• $38 per hour average pay

Whether you’re a small game designer or working in the AAA industry, there is always someone that oversees an entire project.

The Game Director is there to see the game from start to finish. It is your vision which shapes the game.

Video Game Producer

• $33 per hour average pay

A game producer deals with the logistic aspects of the game’s production rather than the creative side of it.

You’re expected to handle the business side which includes contract negotiation and budget management.

Animators

• $25 per hour average pay

Combining art and technology, this is a creative role where you bring objects, vehicles or characters created by 2D and 3D artists to life by making them move.

MoCap Artist

• $34 per hour average pay

Oftentimes when playing modern games it’s uncanny as to how realistic the character’s movements are, that’s because the studio probably uses motion caption artists. 

Your job is to portray realistic facial and body movements to be picked up by the animators.

See how the cast of Uncharted 4 used MoCap to capture the realism of the game below…

Modding Video Games

Modding video games have often been a key to a game’s success.

This involves taking a game’s in-built files and tweaking them to fit a specific aesthetic be it shinier graphics, custom modes or even language mods.

Here’s a quick breakdown on what modding involves…

eSports Commentator

Your job is to provide entertaining and often thrilling commentary for a tournament or event.

An eSports commentator doesn’t have to be a highly skilled player either; as long as you know the intrinsic ins and outs your expertise will shine.

Convention Director

• $61 per hour average pay

Chances are you’ve heard about E3 or Comic-Con. A person who runs a convention is in charge of hosting an event for the players and the industry.

As a director, you’ll be required to pitch to sponsors, work with teams and create an epic convention.

Event Planner

• $24 per hour average pay

On a smaller scale, event planners create niche events for their audiences be it gaming tournaments, special guests or mini-conventions. The events can be online or offline.

Public Relations

Marketing and Public Relations can make or break a game. A PR Professional’s job is to create marketing materials and hype up a game be it through launches, press releases or liaising with influencers.

This can make a massive difference to how many people hear about the game.

PC Builders

• $21 per hour average pay

One of the most daunting things for new PC players is putting together their machines.

Helping people build their systems from scratch could be a profitable business. It’s your job to source and advise people on the best options for their budget.

Gaming Authority Website

These websites are considered the most reliable source of gaming information and entertainment. Three prime examples include:

• GameSpot
• Giant Bomb
• Rock, Paper, Shotgun

Those sites are a mix of industry analysis, news and reviews. 

• See more examples of authority websites

Concept Artist

• $25 per hour average pay

Your job is to create a visual representation of an idea.

You need to be very artistic for this role as you will be required to draw or paint things like characters, environments, vehicles, objects and more.

Environmental Artist

• $29 per hour average pay

This kind of artist focuses on how the game environment looks.

In the game world, you may have to come up with the terrain, structures and objects which shape the surroundings. 

Character Artist

• $26 per hour average pay

Similar to an environmental artist your job is to create characters that fit the game.

This often requires multiple iterations of a character including various outfit designs and facial expressions.

FX Animator

• $36 per hour average pay

Whether it be a tuft of smoke or a ripple on the water, it is the work of the FX Animator to come up with such additions to the game. They add natural or supernatural elements to a final game.

User Interface Artist

• $41 per hour average pay

As a UI Artist, you’re expected to work with the game designers to understand how players will use the interface throughout the game.

You create a design and work with the art director to bring it to life.

Level Designer

• $27 per hour average pay

These are the people who understand what makes good gameplay. They’re in charge of designing engaging experiences that exhilarate and entice the player.

Level designers work with portions of the game that have been defined by the gameplay designer.

Art Director

• $33 per hour average pay

From organising concepts to supervising the artistic vision, it’s the role of an art director to be part of every visual stage of the game.

This job involves working with artists, modellers and animators.

Professional Cosplayer

Cosplayers come in all shapes and forms but many focus on the video game industry.

Professional cosplayers attend events, compete in competitions, run cosplay classes, create their own merchandise and have photo ops.

Here’s a cool explanation of what cosplay is, why people choose their characters and quick interviews with cosplayers…

Fact-checkers and Experts

A more niche role can involve being an expert in your field or as a resident historian. 

Often large games depicting huge cities, worlds, cultures and historical events need fact-checkers to ensure that the information they portray is accurate. 

(Sources for salary estimates mentioned above: ZipRecruiter, Indeed, Glassdoor, Salary.com)