Broadcast Technicians earn a median of $59,570 per year ($28.64/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 3.1% through 2035, with about 1,600 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Associate's degree.
- SOC 27-4012
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Broadcast Technician in four numbers
- Median pay
- $59,570a year, or $28.64/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $31KTop 10% $124K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -3.1%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−3.1%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −3.1% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,60024,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202524.1K
- Projected 203523.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 24.1K Projected 2035 23.3K - Typical education
- Associate'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Audio Engineer, Board Operator, Broadcast Engineer, Broadcast Maintenance Engineer, Broadcast Operations Engineer, Broadcast Operations Technician (Broadcast Ops Tech).
Pay
How much do Broadcast Technicians make?
Every broadcast technician in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$59,570
Middle half earn $40,320 to $83,520
- 10th
- $31,390
- 25th
- $40,320
- 75th
- $83,520
- 90th
- $123,670
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $31,390 |
| 25th | $40,320 |
| Median | $59,570 |
| 75th | $83,520 |
| 90th | $123,670 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $59,570
- Median hourly wage
- $28.64/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $67,960
- People employed
- 21,110
Versus all US occupations
At $59,570, Broadcast Technicians earn 17% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $8,590 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $68,060, this is 12% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $123,670 or more while the bottom 10% earn $31,390, a gap of 3.9×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 32% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
District of Columbia pays the most at $108,270, and still leads at $98,516 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Broadcast Technicians the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1District of Columbia | $108,270 | $98,516 | 290 |
| 2New Hampshire | $81,150 | $77,905 | 170 |
| 3Pennsylvania | $80,470 | $82,472 | 950 |
| 4New York | $78,840 | $73,053 | 1,690 |
| 5Illinois | $74,210 | $74,241 | 690 |
| 6Colorado | $74,040 | $71,847 | 820 |
| 7Nevada | $73,070 | $73,085 | 280 |
| 8Arizona | $73,040 | $72,549 | 530 |
| 9California | $72,800 | $65,751 | 2,340 |
| 10Florida | $64,950 | $62,806 | 1,130 |
Job outlook
Is Broadcast Technician a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -3.1% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Broadcast Technicians | −3.1% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Broadcast Technicians to change -3.1% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 800 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,600 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 24,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035.
Despite limited employment growth, about 9,800 openings for broadcast, sound, and video technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Projected employment of broadcast, sound, and video technicians varies by occupation (see table).
Getting in
How to become a Broadcast Technician
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians typically need postsecondary education. Depending on the work they do, educational requirements may vary.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Associate's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Some preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
Full BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entryThe work
What does a Broadcast Technician do?
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.
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.
Day-to-day tasks
- Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
- Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
- Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
- Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.
- Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
- Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
- Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
- Install broadcast equipment, troubleshoot equipment problems, and perform maintenance or minor repairs, using hand tools.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Technicians usually work full time. They may occasionally work overtime to meet broadcast deadlines or set up for live events. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common because most radio and television stations are on the air 24 hours a day.
Technicians who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule and may work additional hours to meet contract deadlines with the movie studio.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Listening3.6
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Writing3.1
- Active Learning3.1
- Speaking3.0
- Mathematics2.8
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
| Mathematics | 2.8 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.4
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Equipment Maintenance3.1
- Troubleshooting3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Computer aided design CAD software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Music or sound editing software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Broadcast Technician?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Broadcast Technician |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 3 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around organising, following procedures and working precisely with data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Conventional5.1
- Realistic4.8
- Investigative3.0
- Artistic2.8
- Enterprising2.5
- Social2.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Broadcast Technician
O*NET related occupations
- Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
- Architecture and Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician
$78,190median a year
Most earn $50K to $116K
+2.4%Associate's - Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Electrical and Electronics Repairer, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
$74,090median a year
Most earn $47K to $106K
+0.3%Certificate - Architecture and Engineering
- Production
- Architecture and Engineering
More arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media careers
Median annual pay, with broadcast technicians highlighted
- Art Director$114,850
- Technical Writer$90,390
- Editor$77,920
- Writer and Author$76,910
- Public Relations Specialist$74,750
- Interior Designer$67,190
- Graphic Designer$62,960
- Broadcast Technician$59,570
- Photographer$44,660
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Art Director | $114,850 |
| Technical Writer | $90,390 |
| Editor | $77,920 |
| Writer and Author | $76,910 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $74,750 |
| Interior Designer | $67,190 |
| Graphic Designer | $62,960 |
| Broadcast Technician | $59,570 |
| Photographer | $44,660 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Broadcast Technician appears on
Questions
Broadcast Technician: frequently asked questions
How much do Broadcast Technicians make?
Broadcast Technicians earn a median of $59,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 17% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $28.64/hr. The middle half earn between $40,320 and $83,520. The top 10% earn $123,670 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Broadcast Technician?
Usually a two-year degree rather than a four-year one. BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical entry-level education for Broadcast Technicians. BLS also lists short-term on-the-job training as typical on-the-job training.
Is Broadcast Technician a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 3.1% over 2025–2035, a loss of 800 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,600 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Broadcast Technician do?
Broadcast, sound, and video technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies. A core O*NET task: report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible. Employers most often ask for Computer aided design CAD software, Desktop publishing software, Electronic mail software.
Which states pay Broadcast Technicians the most?
The highest state medians for Broadcast Technicians are District of Columbia ($108,270), New Hampshire ($81,150), Pennsylvania ($80,470) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Broadcast Technician?
O*NET scores Broadcast Technicians highest on the Conventional and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes organising, following procedures and working precisely with data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.