Biggest problem with game industry is not getting job, but keeping it after game is finished. Try to get loan for house when you are not sure if you will have work next year.
Also getting 200k per year when you have year long unpaid break between projects lowers that average salary to 100-150k, it is even worse because when you get money you just spend it. So on average with 200k and some breaks you are living like with some stable job that pay 100k. And Game industry does not have good salaries for entry level, because everybody want to make games and nobody want to work for bank.
Because all of that i would aim for programming, you can always get job with something else than games. Now try to get another (non games related) job as game artist when you get kids, need house (loans) and more stability.
Game art and content creation is cool profession to do, but I rather do it as hobby and make money as programmer than other way around.