Broadcast Technicians: Career Profile
Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.
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The Daily Work of Broadcast Technicians Do?
The day-to-day responsibilities of broadcast technicians span:
- Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
- Monitor and log transmitter readings.
- Maintain programming logs as required by station management and the Federal Communications Commission.
- Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
- Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
- Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
- Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
- Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Effective broadcast technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Types of Broadcast Technicians Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Audio Engineer
- Audio Operator
- Board Operator
- Broadcast Engineer
- Broadcast Maintenance Engineer
- Broadcast Operations Engineer
- Broadcast Operations Technician
- Broadcast Technician
Job Outlook
There are about 113,714 broadcast technicians working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +3.5% over the projection horizon.
Broadcast Technicians Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $74,153 |
| Hourly median | $35.65 |
| 10th percentile | $46,878 |
| 25th percentile | $60,515 |
| 75th percentile | $87,790 |
| 90th percentile | $101,428 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Broadcast Technicians Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $96,520 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Illinois | $74,990 |
| California | $73,780 |
| Connecticut | $72,410 |
| Nevada | $67,910 |
| Arizona | $63,080 |
| Colorado | $60,860 |
| Maryland | $58,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,250 |
| Washington | $56,920 |
| Massachusetts | $56,600 |
| Rhode Island | $56,100 |
| Maine | $56,050 |
| Minnesota | $53,560 |
| Wisconsin | $50,820 |
| New Mexico | $50,810 |
| Hawaii | $49,800 |
| Georgia | $48,840 |
| Oregon | $48,780 |
| Michigan | $47,890 |
| Vermont | $47,890 |
| Montana | $47,850 |
| Louisiana | $47,700 |
| South Carolina | $47,280 |
| Virginia | $46,470 |
| Florida | $46,290 |
| Tennessee | $46,170 |
| Alabama | $46,140 |
| Oklahoma | $45,730 |
| North Carolina | $45,430 |
| Texas | $45,070 |
| Missouri | $44,990 |
| Kentucky | $42,250 |
| Wyoming | $40,210 |
| Mississippi | $39,990 |
| Indiana | $39,930 |
| Nebraska | $39,140 |
| North Dakota | $39,120 |
| Arkansas | $39,050 |
| Iowa | $37,340 |
| Kansas | $37,330 |
| Utah | $34,570 |
| Idaho | $32,990 |
| Ohio | $31,760 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,100 |
| West Virginia | $29,900 |
| South Dakota | $29,230 |
Where Broadcast Technicians Earn the Most
Pay for broadcast technicians vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Far Western US | $69,855 | 16.2% | 1.01 |
| Middle Atlantic | $64,540 | 18.5% | 1.34 |
| New England | $59,781 | 4.7% | 1.09 |
| Rocky Mountains | $51,715 | 6.9% | 1.86 |
| Southwest | $49,516 | 9.8% | 0.89 |
| Great Lakes | $48,350 | 13.6% | 1.03 |
| Southeast | $45,571 | 23.5% | 0.99 |
| Plains States | $44,278 | 6.1% | 0.99 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $97,100 | 1,840 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $82,130 | 410 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $77,660 | 460 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | NY | $77,510 | 60 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $77,270 | 340 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $76,400 | 90 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $76,400 | 640 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $75,940 | 1,340 |
Industry Breakdown
Most broadcast technicians are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 16,640 | $49,840 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,460 | $66,470 |
| Educational Services | 1,270 | $64,590 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 640 | $45,660 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 120 | $77,020 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 120 | $51,900 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 60 | $75,720 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 50 | $40,850 |
Broadcast Technicians work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- Video creation and editing software: Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
What the Workplace Is Like
The work environment for broadcast technicians is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Education and Training
Entry-level broadcast technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Computer Network Support Specialists (Supplemental)
- Computer Network Architects (Supplemental)
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer (Supplemental)
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for broadcast technicians typically earn programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
3 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 27-4012.00 (Broadcast Technicians).
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