Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys: Career Profile
Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
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What Tasks Do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Perform?
The core tasks performed by broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys span:
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Operate control consoles.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
What Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Need to Know
Successful broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Anchor
- Announcer
- Board Operator
- Broadcaster
- Commercial Announcer
- DJ (Disc Jockey)
- Entertainer
- Game Show Host
How Many Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Are There?
The U.S. employs around 148,750 broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +8.2% over the projection horizon.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $108,419 |
| Hourly median | $52.12 |
| 10th percentile | $74,389 |
| 25th percentile | $91,404 |
| 75th percentile | $125,434 |
| 90th percentile | $142,449 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $73,930 |
| Maryland | $72,080 |
| New York | $71,570 |
| Indiana | $61,350 |
| Colorado | $59,510 |
| Massachusetts | $58,320 |
| New Jersey | $58,020 |
| Nevada | $57,490 |
| Alaska | $50,840 |
| Rhode Island | $50,650 |
| Utah | $49,050 |
| Idaho | $47,490 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,290 |
| Florida | $46,780 |
| Virginia | $46,280 |
| Hawaii | $45,840 |
| New Hampshire | $45,740 |
| Michigan | $45,500 |
| North Dakota | $44,990 |
| South Dakota | $43,490 |
| Minnesota | $43,270 |
| Texas | $43,130 |
| Nebraska | $42,840 |
| Oregon | $42,410 |
| Washington | $42,400 |
| Illinois | $42,240 |
| Tennessee | $41,010 |
| Wisconsin | $40,490 |
| Missouri | $39,280 |
| North Carolina | $39,260 |
| Maine | $38,840 |
| Arizona | $38,830 |
| New Mexico | $38,530 |
| Alabama | $37,040 |
| Kansas | $36,680 |
| Wyoming | $36,670 |
| Vermont | $35,440 |
| Montana | $35,360 |
| Georgia | $35,090 |
| West Virginia | $35,050 |
| Ohio | $35,030 |
| Oklahoma | $34,740 |
| Mississippi | $32,900 |
| Iowa | $30,490 |
| South Carolina | $29,870 |
| Kentucky | $29,420 |
| Arkansas | $29,120 |
| Louisiana | $27,620 |
| Puerto Rico | $22,630 |
Where Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Earn the Most
Pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $62,547 | 14.7% | 1.13 |
| Far Western US | $60,909 | 15.0% | 1.04 |
| Rocky Mountains | $50,964 | 3.5% | 1.04 |
| Great Lakes | $45,906 | 17.9% | 1.37 |
| Southwest | $40,888 | 8.8% | 0.77 |
| Plains States | $39,682 | 11.9% | 1.86 |
| Southeast | $38,069 | 23.4% | 1.06 |
| New England | $34,390 | 4.3% | 1.12 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $126,550 | 380 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $102,300 | 1,670 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $88,560 | 150 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $78,350 | 860 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | CT | $75,330 | 60 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $73,630 | 220 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $72,080 | 140 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | CO | $68,390 | 250 |
Industry Breakdown
Most broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys are concentrated in the following sectors:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Information | 20,720 | $44,230 |
| Educational Services | 1,410 | $62,450 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 1,290 | $58,830 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 130 | $97,330 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 60 | $43,940 |
Below are examples of industries where broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys work:
Software Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (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)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Video conferencing software: Zoom (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
The work environment for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Time Pressure
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Entry-level broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes (Supplemental)
- Special Effects Artists and Animators (Supplemental)
- Actors (Supplemental)
- Producers and Directors (Primary-Short)
- Media Programming Directors (Primary-Short)
- Talent Directors (Supplemental)
- Media Technical Directors/Managers (Primary-Short)
- Disc Jockeys, Except Radio (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Aspiring broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys typically earn programs in:
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
5 programs across 4 majors
- Communication & Media Studies
- Radio, TV & Digital Communication
- Public Relations & Advertising
- Journalism
References
This profile draws on 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: 27-3011.00 (Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys).
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