Broadcast technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $31,390 | $15.09 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $59,570 | $28.64 |
| Mean (average) | $67,960 | $32.68 |
| 90th percentile | $123,670 | $59.46 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Broadcast technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $47,290 | $27,680 | $79,410 | 220 | 0.76 |
| Arizona | $73,040 | $38,300 | $132,820 | 530 | 1.2 |
| Arkansas | $41,870 | $23,760 | $62,580 | 220 | 1.24 |
| California | $72,800 | $38,480 | $129,640 | 2,340 | 0.95 |
| Colorado | $74,040 | $45,840 | $111,870 | 820 | 2.11 |
| Connecticut | $58,930 | $45,130 | $102,490 | 700 | 3.04 |
| District of Columbia | $108,270 | $45,220 | $133,880 | 290 | 3.07 |
| Florida | $64,950 | $31,970 | $124,420 | 1,130 | 0.84 |
| Georgia | $47,340 | $26,250 | $94,300 | 440 | 0.66 |
| Hawaii | $49,200 | $29,120 | $97,550 | 70 | 0.87 |
| Idaho | $44,730 | $24,680 | $109,990 | 90 | 0.8 |
| Illinois | $74,210 | $35,130 | $128,130 | 690 | 0.83 |
| Indiana | $44,400 | $35,410 | $74,260 | 760 | 1.76 |
| Iowa | $46,820 | $23,320 | $79,050 | 180 | 0.83 |
| Kansas | $41,600 | $21,520 | $130,000 | 90 | 0.47 |
| Kentucky | $40,240 | $18,510 | $70,880 | 230 | 0.85 |
| Louisiana | $44,440 | $28,800 | $77,280 | 120 | 0.46 |
| Maine | $55,110 | $40,040 | $82,180 | 90 | 1.05 |
| Maryland | $64,030 | $35,880 | $122,990 | 460 | 1.24 |
| Massachusetts | $47,260 | $36,370 | $82,920 | 560 | 1.14 |
| Michigan | $47,730 | $28,660 | $86,540 | 580 | 0.98 |
| Minnesota | $46,790 | $32,160 | $80,040 | 330 | 0.83 |
| Mississippi | $27,750 | $23,310 | $63,210 | 60 | 0.38 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | $31,650 | $81,890 | 300 | 0.75 |
| Montana | $46,600 | $35,890 | $87,140 | 60 | 0.83 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 | $28,080 | $68,430 | 160 | 1.18 |
| Nevada | $73,070 | $31,330 | $108,610 | 280 | 1.34 |
| New Hampshire | $81,150 | $61,350 | $132,880 | 170 | 1.85 |
| New Jersey | Data unavailable | 790 | 1.36 | ||
| New Mexico | $49,990 | $37,340 | $73,990 | 80 | 0.71 |
| New York | $78,840 | $37,740 | $136,310 | 1,690 | 1.28 |
| North Carolina | $47,780 | $35,000 | $88,460 | 580 | 0.87 |
| North Dakota | $48,090 | $27,040 | $85,850 | 80 | 1.45 |
| Ohio | $48,720 | $24,960 | $99,800 | 430 | 0.57 |
| Oklahoma | $44,530 | $20,490 | $97,640 | 240 | 1.03 |
| Oregon | $44,420 | $31,900 | $75,930 | 220 | 0.82 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,470 | $27,720 | $162,500 | 950 | 1.15 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,580 | $21,840 | $50,850 | 130 | 1.02 |
| Rhode Island | $49,580 | $31,200 | $84,720 | 110 | 1.64 |
| South Carolina | $46,860 | $30,630 | $82,010 | 210 | 0.66 |
| South Dakota | $32,150 | $27,270 | $55,360 | 40 | 0.71 |
| Tennessee | $47,340 | $30,100 | $78,870 | 400 | 0.89 |
| Texas | $49,440 | $29,580 | $97,330 | 1,380 | 0.72 |
| Utah | $31,490 | $22,110 | $81,060 | 300 | 1.27 |
| Virginia | $57,940 | $28,430 | $82,510 | 710 | 1.27 |
| Washington | $62,070 | $37,760 | $96,690 | 270 | 0.57 |
| West Virginia | $27,310 | $21,140 | $60,820 | 120 | 1.24 |
| Wisconsin | $62,400 | $30,020 | $82,400 | 410 | 1.02 |
| Wyoming | $39,380 | $25,950 | $65,230 | 50 | 1.29 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for broadcast technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 1,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 11.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for broadcast technicians
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Communications Technology/Technician CIP 10.0105
- Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology/Technician CIP 10.0202
- Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians, Other CIP 10.0299
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
- Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
- Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
- Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
- Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
- Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.
- Monitor and log transmitter readings.
- Regulate the fidelity, brightness, and contrast of video transmissions, using video console control panels.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Adobe After Effects (hot technology)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- UNIX (hot technology)
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Apple Final Cut Pro
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Audio Engineer, Board Operator, Broadcast Engineer, Broadcast Maintenance Engineer, Broadcast Operations Engineer, Broadcast Operations Technician (Broadcast Ops Tech), Broadcast Systems Support Engineer, Control Operator, Production Engineer, Radio Technician (Radio Tech).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do broadcast technicians make?
The national median annual wage for broadcast technicians was $59,570 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $31,390 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $123,670. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do broadcast technicians need?
BLS lists associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is broadcast technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of broadcast technicians to change -3.1% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 1,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay broadcast technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($108,270), New Hampshire ($81,150), Pennsylvania ($80,470). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.