All About Technical Directors/Managers
Technical Director or Manager Definition Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
Technical Director or Manager Responsibilities
- Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
- Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
- Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
- Confer with operations directors to formulate and maintain fair and attainable technical policies for programs.
- Collaborate with promotions directors to produce on-air station promotions.
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Skills Needed to be a Technical Director or Manager
Below is a list of the skills most Technical Directors/Managers say are important on the job.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles
- Program Director
- Technical Director
- Radio Television Technical Director (Radio TV Technical Director)
- Creative Services Director
- Engineer
Technical Director or Manager Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 134,700 jobs in the United States for Technical Director or Manager. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 16,500 new jobs for Technical Director or Manager by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 14,100 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Technical Director or Manager are Utah, Georgia, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Alaska, Maine, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Technical Director or Manager Make?
The salary for Technical Directors/Managers ranges between about $34,450 and $163,540 a year.

Technical Directors/Managers who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Technical Directors/Managers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $57,040 |
Alaska | $61,280 |
Arizona | $62,760 |
Arkansas | $58,750 |
California | $115,080 |
Colorado | $68,290 |
Connecticut | $84,900 |
Delaware | $59,680 |
District of Columbia | $89,390 |
Florida | $70,630 |
Georgia | $84,570 |
Hawaii | $73,200 |
Idaho | $55,600 |
Illinois | $77,960 |
Indiana | $48,300 |
Iowa | $46,610 |
Kansas | $56,680 |
Kentucky | $60,530 |
Louisiana | $56,290 |
Maine | $51,310 |
Maryland | $78,760 |
Massachusetts | $70,480 |
Michigan | $65,910 |
Minnesota | $73,110 |
Mississippi | $44,310 |
Missouri | $65,560 |
Montana | $51,920 |
Nebraska | $51,620 |
Nevada | $67,190 |
New Hampshire | $59,830 |
New Jersey | $92,180 |
New Mexico | $75,110 |
New York | $115,610 |
North Carolina | $73,980 |
North Dakota | $42,570 |
Ohio | $60,590 |
Oklahoma | $55,670 |
Oregon | $68,280 |
Pennsylvania | $76,050 |
Rhode Island | $65,660 |
South Carolina | $57,200 |
South Dakota | $55,930 |
Tennessee | $65,040 |
Texas | $69,280 |
Utah | $67,800 |
Vermont | $58,760 |
Virginia | $69,750 |
Washington | $71,430 |
Wisconsin | $57,110 |
Wyoming | $45,930 |
What Tools do Technical Directors/Managers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Technical Directors/Managers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Python
- Word processing software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- Linux
- Microsoft SQL Server
- UNIX
- C
- Oracle software
- Practical extraction and reporting language Perl
- YouTube
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Atlassian JIRA
- Social media sites
How to Become a Technical Director or Manager
What education is needed to be a Technical Director or Manager?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Technical Director or Manager?

Where Technical Directors/Managers Are Employed

Below are examples of industries where Technical Directors/Managers work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Are you already one of the many Technical Director or Manager in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
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