How much does a broadcast technician make?
a year · about $29 an hour
A typical broadcast technician in the United States makes $59,570 a year, about $29 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
Before a show, they preview the program and check monitors, audio, and signal strength. During the broadcast, they adjust sound and picture, fix equipment problems, and log transmitter readings.
Did you know? At field broadcasts, technicians may aim receiving dishes to catch the clearest signal—like tuning a giant antenna for a live show.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $31,390 and $123,670How do you become one?
In the U.S., finish high school, then usually earn an associate degree in broadcasting or a related technical field and get hands-on practice with audio and video equipment. Employers usually provide short on-the-job training; certification is optional, and an exam is one way to earn it.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like keeping things organized and building and doing
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and technical skills matter: experienced technicians may move to larger stations that pay better and value specialists. Pay also varies by employer, duties, and location; optional certification may help with hiring. Some jobs involve overtime or evening and weekend shifts, so schedules and hours differ.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Pennsylvania ($80,470), lowest in Indiana ($44,400).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $31,390 | $59,570 | $123,670 | about 21,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $80,470 | about 950 |
| New York | $78,840 | about 2,000 |
| Illinois | $74,210 | about 690 |
| Colorado | $74,040 | about 820 |
| Arizona | $73,040 | about 530 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technici
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/27-4012.00
- sbe.org/certification/certification-levels/certified-radio-operator-cro-and-cert
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY