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.
Media Programming Director Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
The median pay for Media Programming Directors is $90,360 a year ($43.44/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2034, with about 12,800 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
SOC 27-2012Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and MediaLast updated August 15, 2026
- Median pay
- $90,360
- Projected growth
- +4.9%
- Openings a year
- 12,800
- Typical education
- Bachelor's
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Broadcast Content Manager, News Director, Newscast Director, Production Director, Program Coordinator, Program Director (PD).
How much do Media Programming Directors make?
10th percentile$45,780
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$62,670
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$90,360
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$134,800
Upper quartile
90th percentile$198,540
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $90,360 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $43.44/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $113,300 |
| People employed | 143,120 |
Versus all US occupations
At $90,360, Media Programming Directors earn 77% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $39,380 a year.
Versus arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Inside the Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media group, where the middle occupation pays $72,775, this is 24% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $198,540 or more while the bottom 10% earn $45,780, a gap of 4.3×. 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 72% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
California pays the most at $129,790, and still leads at $117,224 once local prices are taken into account.
Which states pay Media Programming Directors the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $129,790 | $117,224 | 34,110 |
| New Jersey | $119,840 | $110,142 | 2,970 |
| New York | $107,550 | $99,656 | 27,990 |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 | $94,876 | 2,640 |
| Connecticut | $88,260 | $85,185 | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $87,460 | $84,616 | 1,640 |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 | $82,372 | 560 |
| Washington | $81,550 | $76,206 | 2,270 |
| Illinois | $81,080 | $81,114 | 3,170 |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 | $76,562 | 3,440 |
Is Media Programming Director a growing career?
Media Programming Directors4.9%
All US occupations3.1%
+4.9% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Media Programming Directors to change 4.9% over 2024–2034, against 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 8,300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,800 openings are projected each year, 7.7% of the 167,000 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many 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.
Strong demand for video advertising across platforms is projected to increase demand for these workers. Additionally, new TV shows and movies, especially on online and streaming platforms, are expected to continue to create some opportunities for producers and directors.
Demand for theater producers and directors will depend on funding availability. If there is a steady revenue stream, these workers may be in demand. However, opportunities for producers and directors may be limited in theaters with funding challenges.
How to become a Media Programming Director
Producers and directors typically have a bachelor’s degree. They also typically need several years of experience working on set in film, TV, stage, or other productions in positions such as actors, cinematographers, or film and video editors or in related occupations, such as theater managers.
| Typical entry-level education | Bachelor's degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Medium preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as media programming directors.
- Bachelor's Degree52.0%
- High School Diploma31.2%
- Some College Courses15.0%
- Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)1.8%
What does a Media Programming Director do?
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about, film, television, stage, and other productions. They interpret a writer’s script to entertain, inform, or instruct an audience.
Day-to-day tasks
- Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
- 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.
- Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
- Monitor network transmissions for advisories concerning daily program schedules, program content, special feeds, or program changes.
- Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
- Develop promotions for current programs and specials.
- Develop ideas for programs and features that a station could produce.
- Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Where media programming directors work
| Motion picture and video industries | 26% |
|---|---|
| Media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers | 13% |
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 11% |
| Television broadcasting stations | 9% |
| Self-employed workers | 8% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Speaking4.3/5
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Active Listening3.9/5
- Active Learning3.9/5
- Monitoring3.9/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Learning Strategies3.0/5
Transferable skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1/5
- Coordination4.0/5
- Time Management4.0/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.9/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Negotiation3.6/5
- Persuasion3.3/5
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Video creation and editing software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits a Media Programming Director?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realistic1.4
Investigative2.3
Artisticprimary4.1
Social3.7
Enterprisingprimary6.5
Conventionalprimary4.6
Day to day this is work built around leading, persuading, selling and making decisions, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
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.
Media Programming Director: frequently asked questions
How much do Media Programming Directors make?
Media Programming Directors earn a median of $90,360 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 77% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $43.44/hr. The middle half earn between $62,670 and $134,800. The top 10% earn $198,540 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Media Programming Director?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Media Programming Directors, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.0% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Media Programming Director a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2024–2034, faster than the 3.1% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 12,800 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Media Programming Director do?
Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about, film, television, stage, and other productions. A core O*NET task: monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base user interface and query software, Document management software.
Which states pay Media Programming Directors the most?
The highest state medians for Media Programming Directors are California ($129,790), New Jersey ($119,840), New York ($107,550) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Media Programming Director?
O*NET scores Media Programming Directors highest on the Enterprising, Conventional and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes leading, persuading, selling and making decisions with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ENFJ, ESFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.