In other words, there are certain stages that a video game tester would have to go through to earn in the higher range of the earnings scale.  In the beginning you start all the way at the bottom, usually as a beta game tester or quality assurance game tester. 

These are the two lower stages of video game testing.  Later you can graduate to becoming an Alpha game tester, these are the more higher end game testers that get paid more and are hired by the big game developing companies. 

A person can start out in beta testing or QA game testing and with some determination and hardwork reach a higher position like Alpha Game Testing.  In alpha game testing, the game tester will test the games that are developed very early on and the type of testing they will do is bug testing for big bugs that would just devastate the entire game if they happened. 

After the alpha game testers get their jobs done, then they may pass the games on to the beta testers and Quality Assurance testers.  By the time that a game reaches the Quality Assurance testers the games are very much complete and only the details of gameplay, sound and graphics need to be tested because the major bugs must have already been detected. 

To move up from a beta tester or quality assurance tester to an alpha tester it may require more than just a willingness to play video games.  You may need to take the extra step such as actually getting some type of video game related education.  Since you will be dealing with major bugs in the system of a video game you have to know your stuff.  This is why these guys get paid more than a person who only does basic gameplay game testing.

You will also need some experience, which naturally comes if you began your game testing career as a beta game tester.  This is where you are introduced to the wonderful world of video gaming.  And most useful to you will be the habit of acting quickly on the things you learn. 

For instance if you learn of a glitch you must take action quickly and report it in detail and this will always make you look good.  You have to go in with the right mindset of getting problems solved and taking action and you’ll go far with that.

Anyway, video game testing can be tedious at times when you do the same thing over and over trying to find the exact error, but at the same time it is a very competitive job.  You have to do all the right things to end up in the best position that you can. 

Its even more competitive in the sense that some guys even test video games online for free as volunteers.  Of course if you prepare yourself adequately, you would do a much better job than any volunteer out there that just likes playing, because you need more than that.

Visit this video game testing page to find the right information to get you your first game tester job.