The Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality sectors have been experiencing terrific growth in the past few years. And with the recent craze about the metaverse, we are on the verge of real disruption as technology continues to advance faster than ever before. In addition, the recession stemmed from the Coronavirus pandemic in the last two years has led to companies and individuals rethinking how work and play can still be fun while avoiding unnecessary physical contact.
Well, even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many sectors had already migrated their services to the internet. An excellent example is Amazon and eBay for shopping and internet gambling on online casino Canada platforms – or iGaming sites from any part of the world for that matter. When the pandemic struck, other industries were backed into a corner as they fought to stay afloat in a world where movement is completely restricted. Users continuously started looking for ways to safely carry out everyday tasks and interact despite lockdowns and quarantine restrictions that keep coming up. Enter VR and AR, the keys to the next stage of the technological revolution.
Thanks to multisensorial user experiences made possible by VR and AR technologies, engineers are working hard behind the scenes to make the magic happen. Getting all the five senses involved is not an easy task and requires lots of research to get it right. Those interested in pursuing a career as a VR and/or AR engineer stand to gain a lot from the relatively new multi-billion-dollar market that is still evolving. If you are planning your higher education roadmap in the VR and AR engineering sector, read on to discover what you should expect in your journey to becoming a trained professional.
Career Roadmap and Education
The VR and AR industry revolves around creating immersive media where users can interact with 3D objects, calling for specialized personnel to facilitate different aspects of the systems. Consequently, there are various career paths to kick-start a VR and AR engineering career. Such engineers may work in different fields, including medicine, travel, education, construction and urban planning, among many others.
An educational background in Mechatronics Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Biomechatronics Engineering, Computer Science or Computer Engineering may be a great starting point. These bachelor’s degrees are meant to equip potential VR and AR engineers with the problem-solving skills that are paramount in this career path. However, you must also have some coding skills in programming languages that facilitate the building of 3D virtual worlds. The main languages used are C#, C++, Swift and Javascript, and they are used with the Unity or Unreal Engines, which engineers use to create and recreate 3D environments for VR games.
A background in mathematical disciplines like geometry and linear algebra will serve as an advantage when coming up with solutions for projects within the field. However, it’s important to note that AR and VR are different fields on their own rights, and you may choose to go one way or the other, contributing to various aspects of the industry. So, while the two disciplines are related, you may end up heading in a different direction when you choose one path over the other.
Salary Scale
As with any internationally recognized job, the remuneration for a VR and AR engineer varies from country to country and from state to state. Glassdoor reports an average of $108,744 per year, with the lowest figures being approximately $74,000 and the highest being $160,000.
Hired.com has established that the highest-paid VR engineers are in the USA, with annual salaries ranging from $100,000 to $167,000. These numbers are encouraging as they match and even exceed other lucrative technological careers such as Software Engineering and Network Administration. On the other hand, since we are starting to see the sector’s growth skyrocket, the figures may also go through the roof, setting it above similar careers.
Tremendous Potential Now and in the Future
Riding on the wave of emerging technologies is how smart folks have managed to stay ahead of the curve and reap great benefits. Individuals who hesitated when the industry was just budding end up wanting in when the fad has died down, and the market is already saturated.
When Facebook first bought Oculus Rift for $2.3 Billion in 2014, we weren’t sure where they were going with the move, but the recent rebrand to Meta has brought everything into perspective. The company has even announced putting in more money ($10 Billion per year) to fund VR and AR hardware, software and content for the metaverse project.
The VR and AR markets are now more demanding than ever before, especially since the headsets are still being improved upon. A career in VR and AR engineering is sure to play a significant role in the future of the industry, and now is the time to take the leap. But, of course, competition to get into the more prominent companies is usually cut-throat if your mission is to get hired as leading companies only absorb top talent.
Still, as a beginner, there is much potential even in startups that often also pay their staffers well. Moreover, as the industry continues to take shape, more opportunities along those lines will pop up in the near future. So, you better sharpen your skill so that you are ready to seize the more lucrative opportunities when they present themselves later on.
