How much does a broadcast technician make?

The median pay in the United States is $59,570 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025).

How to become a broadcast technician

Q: How do I become a broadcast technician?

The typical entry-level education is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..

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.

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.Typical entry-level education

$59,570Median pay a year

Steps to get there

Most employers expect most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree..Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What broadcast technicians do

Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
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.
Regulate the fidelity, brightness, and contrast of video transmissions, using video console control panels.
Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
Record sound onto tape or film for radio or television, checking its quality and making adjustments where necessary.

Skills that matter most

Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Active Listening
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Active Learning
Speaking
Mathematics

Is broadcast technician a good career?

On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 17% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

District of Columbia $108,270
New Hampshire $81,150
Pennsylvania $80,470
New York $78,840
Illinois $74,210

Broadcast Technicians salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.