Life As a Program Director
Position Description Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
A Day in the Life of a Program Director
- Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.
- Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
- Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
- Act as a liaison between talent and directors, providing information that performers or guests need to prepare for appearances and communicating relevant information from guests, performers, or staff to directors.
- Review information about programs and schedules to ensure accuracy and provide such information to local media outlets.
- Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
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Program Director Required Skills
Program Directors state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Types of Program Director Jobs
- Program Director, Air Talent
- Director of Programming and Special Events
- Program/Music Director
- Vice President of News
- Cable Television Program Director
Job Outlook for Program Directors
There were about 134,700 jobs for Program Director in 2016 (in the United States). 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 Program Director by 2026. The BLS estimates 14,100 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Program Director 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.
Program Director Salary
The typical yearly salary for Program Directors is somewhere between $34,450 and $163,540.
Program Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Program Directors 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Program Directors
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Program Directors:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Web browser software
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- FileMaker Pro
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Content management systems CMS
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
Becoming a Program Director
What kind of Program Director requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Program Director?
Where Program Directors Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Program Directors employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Donald Judge via Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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