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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What Tasks Do Broadcast Technicians Do?
The core tasks performed by 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.
What Broadcast Technicians Need to Know
Effective broadcast technicians rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Broadcast Technicians Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Audio Engineer
- Audio Operator
- Board Operator
- Broadcast Engineer
- Broadcast Maintenance Engineer
- Broadcast Operations Engineer
- Broadcast Operations Technician
- Broadcast Technician
Employment and Demand
There are roughly 113,714 broadcast technicians working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +3.5% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Broadcast Technicians Make?
| 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.
Pay by State
| 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Pay for broadcast technicians differ across the country. 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
The largest employers of broadcast technicians are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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:
Software Broadcast Technicians Use
- 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)
Work Environment
The work environment for broadcast technicians tends to involve 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
Typical broadcast technicians positions require an associate’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
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
Future broadcast technicians typically earn programs in:
Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services
3 programs across 2 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes 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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