Life As a Program Director
Career Description Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Daily Life Of a Program Director
- Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
- Select, acquire, and maintain programs, music, films, and other needed materials and obtain legal clearances for their use as necessary.
- Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
- Plan and schedule programming and event coverage, based on broadcast length, time availability, and other factors, such as community needs, ratings data, and viewer demographics.
- Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
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Program Director Skills
These are the skills Program Directors say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Types of Program Director
- Director of Programming and Special Events
- Program Manager
- Sports Director
- Director of Programming
- Program and Research Coordinator
What Kind of Program Director Job Opportunities Are There?
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. There will be an estimated 14,100 positions for Program Director per year.
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.
Do Program Directors Make A Lot Of Money?
Program Directors make between $34,450 and $163,540 a year.
Program Directors who work in California, New York, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Program Directors 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 Program Directors Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Program Directors may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Are there Program Directors education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Program Director?
Program Directors Sector
Program Directors work in the following 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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