Broadcast Technician Salary


How Much Does a Broadcast Technician Make?

On average, a Broadcast Technician make $71,600 a year. The lowest-paid 10 percent made $28,080, while the top-paid 10 percent made $125,410.

Annually National Average Salary: $71,600

$28K
$36K
$71K
$96K
$125K
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS.




Salary by State

  • Annually
  • Monthly
  • Hourly

Annual Salary by State

State 10% Annual 25% Annual Avg. Annual 75% Annual 90% Annual
Alabama$23,920$29,830$45,030$57,970$73,790
Alaska$30,260$36,670$51,170$62,760$83,980
Arizona$32,110$35,270$50,180$62,280$74,060
Arkansas$24,700$30,560$39,940$44,010$58,120
California$39,710$62,430$105,030$108,420$133,930
Colorado$40,530$50,980$90,260$77,810$119,980
Connecticut$36,230$48,580$66,140$79,480$95,980
District of Columbia$45,750$55,880$85,970$113,730$127,650
Florida$26,970$37,130$62,420$77,170$110,230
Georgia$28,390$33,680$50,350$61,490$76,140
Hawaii$26,170$36,400$55,290$75,840$85,010
Idaho$29,080$30,160$43,900$49,490$74,680
Illinois$29,070$37,230$73,500$106,020$130,430
Indiana$23,970$30,560$49,510$59,730$81,600
Iowa$16,900$22,450$45,610$62,590$93,120
Kansas$21,440$26,760$44,790$59,160$71,300
Kentucky$20,800$24,890$60,020$63,630$179,650
Louisiana$32,080$36,680$53,240$63,550$83,400
Maine$31,910$37,770$64,930$80,120$112,270
Maryland$27,880$31,630$57,950$76,040$86,360
Massachusetts$34,370$37,100$59,800$76,040$99,900
Michigan$24,070$27,830$45,710$58,490$77,710
Minnesota$25,540$29,410$52,620$61,770$97,260
Mississippi$17,020$19,540$35,310$56,130$66,710
Missouri$29,350$30,690$50,990$64,050$85,660
Montana$21,490$34,630$45,580$50,060$79,620
Nebraska$21,840$21,970$35,880$43,490$71,630
Nevada$30,160$33,490$54,580$74,220$74,220
New Jersey$53,660$68,870$92,110$103,280$124,230
New Mexico$36,950$39,380$55,820$58,190$67,320
New York$33,040$40,470$72,780$103,620$130,590
North Carolina$28,630$35,920$46,940$55,790$72,990
North Dakota$22,450$28,560$43,200$47,890$76,720
Ohio- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
Oklahoma$17,300$31,300$40,010$46,860$61,940
Oregon$30,900$36,160$67,790$79,070$116,570
Pennsylvania- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -- NA -
Rhode Island$27,040$36,060$51,170$59,130$78,380
South Carolina$28,920$34,500$47,070$52,880$70,200
South Dakota$22,460$22,880$34,410$38,240$54,570
Tennessee$29,000$30,590$43,830$47,160$61,890
Texas$22,300$29,630$49,850$64,590$84,280
Utah$28,970$32,610$52,310$66,980$90,230
Vermont$33,540$39,990$48,990$57,120$75,780
Virginia$30,180$39,720$68,160$99,370$126,230
Washington$34,520$40,800$55,090$70,140$82,270
West Virginia$21,200$21,560$31,240$36,030$49,840
Wisconsin$30,650$40,040$64,840$80,240$114,150
Wyoming$27,470$32,400$45,630$61,320$70,270
Puerto Rico$19,510$23,090$34,230$38,190$52,880

Annual Average Salary: Top 5 States

The top earning state in the field is California, where the average salary is $105,030.

These are the top 5 earning states in the field:

California - $105,030
New Jersey - $92,110
Colorado - $90,260
District of Columbia - $85,970
Illinois - $73,500

Broadcast Technicians: Salary Overview

Broadcast technicians set up and operate the equipment that is used to acquire and transmit radio or television programs.

Their job consists of controlling and adjusting broadcast signals and ensuring that the signal is strong and clear.

They usually work with satellite, microwave, and other transmitter equipment.

Sometimes they are also called broadcast engineers.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for broadcast technicians was $40,570 as of May 2019 which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.

Salaries vary based on many factors, including experience and education level, region, and industry of employment.

The report published by BLS shows that the lowest 10 percent of all broadcast technicians earned less than $21,620 while the top 10 percent made more than $82,080 annually.

Broadcast Technician Salary by Industry

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, broadcast technicians held approximately 32,700 jobs in the United States in 2019, most of them working in the field of radio and television broadcasting or in the motion picture and video industries.

The average annual wage reported by broadcast technicians who were employed in the field of radio and television broadcasting was $44,090 as of May 2019.

Broadcast technicians who worked for the motion picture and video industries reportedly earned $62,260 per year, on average, while those who worked in the field of cable and other subscription programming reportedly made $52,570 annually.

The mean annual salary was $51,930 per year for broadcast technicians who worked for colleges, universities, and professional schools and $40,750 for those who worked for state governments.

The report shows that the highest paying industry for this profession was the federal executive branch where the average annual wage reported by workers in this occupation was $99,100- more than double the average for this profession across all industries.

Salary by Education and Experience Level

Besides the industry of employment, the are many other factors that determine how much a broadcasting technician makes each year.

One such factor is the experience level.

As an entry-level employee, your salary will, most likely, be closer to the minimum for this profession but you will start to earn more after gaining a few years of experience.

You can enter this profession by finding employment in a smaller market or at a small station in a big market but you may have the opportunity of transferring to a larger, better-paying position after gaining a few years of experience and perfecting your skills.

Education is another important factor in calculating a broadcast technician’s annual salary.

You will typically need an associate’s degree in order to enter this profession.

These post-secondary programs typically include hands-on experience with the equipment that is used in many entry-level positions.

Salaries also vary depending on the region and the state of employment.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest-paying state for this occupation is the District of Columbia, where the average annual wage reported by broadcast technicians was $75,840.

Broadcast technicians in New Jersey reportedly made $63,700 per year while those in New York were remunerated, on average, with $57,820 annually.

Some of the states with the lowest annual salary reported by this occupation are Nevada, Alaska, Alabama, Oklahoma, Montana, and South Dakota.

Job Prospects

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall employment for broadcast technicians is projected to grow 3 percent from 2018 to 2028.

Their services will continue to be needed but the employment growth will be tempered by the fact that most major stations use a single facility to broadcast to multiple stations.

Your job opportunities and earning prospects will depend upon the region but also upon your skills and experience level.

* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Broadcast Technicians. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.

* Employment conditions in your area may vary.


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