Occupations · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Broadcast Technicians

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 27-4012.00

$53,920median annual wage, May 2024

21,080people employed, United States

▼ 2.8%projected change, 2024→2034

1,800openings a year, incl. replacements

What it pays

A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage

Pay over time

Median up 92% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.

BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.

Where the jobs are

Metro area	Median wage	Employed
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	$97,100	1,840
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$75,940	1,340
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	$62,630	750
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$76,400	640
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$48,840	560
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$52,580	510
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA	$77,660	460
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$56,600	440
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	$82,130	410
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$67,080	360
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$47,450	360
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ	$77,270	340

BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation

Typical education to enter: Associate's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
Monitor and log transmitter readings.
Maintain programming logs as required by station management and the Federal Communications Commission.
Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
Record sound onto tape or film for radio or television, checking its quality and making adjustments where necessary.
Schedule programming or read television programming logs to determine which programs are to be recorded or aired.
Select sources from which programming will be received or through which programming will be transmitted.
Install broadcast equipment, troubleshoot equipment problems, and perform maintenance or minor repairs, using hand tools.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Critical Thinking3.8

Active Listening3.6

Monitoring3.5

Writing3.2

Speaking3.1

Active Learning3.1

Reading Comprehension3.1

Learning Strategies2.9

Mathematics2.8

Science1.9

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Adobe After Effects●Adobe Illustrator●Adobe InDesign●Adobe Photoshop●Autodesk AutoCAD●Linux●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Windows●Microsoft Word●UNIX●Adobe AuditionAdobe Premiere ProApple Final Cut ProAvid Technology audio visual editing softwareCharacter generator softwareCisco IOSDassault Systemes CATIAEmail softwareVideo decoder softwareVideo encoder software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

3 / 5Medium preparation — vocational training or an associate degree, plus 1–2 years of work.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.0 below average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled+1.0 above average

Spend Time Sitting+1.0 above average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.0 below average

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions−0.8 below average

Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities−0.7 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2019-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)43%

Some College Courses27%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)17%

Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)10%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2019-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional5.1

Realistic4.8

Investigative3.0

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

Tasks O*NET flags as emerging

Develop budgets.

O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Operations Monitoring3.5

Complex Problem Solving3.2

Time Management3.1

Equipment Maintenance3.1

Judgment and Decision Making3.1

Operation and Control3.0

Coordination3.0

Troubleshooting3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

Computers and ElectronicsTelecommunicationsEngineering and TechnologyCommunications and MediaEnglish LanguageDesign

Abilities it leans on

Near VisionWritten ComprehensionOral ComprehensionProblem SensitivityInformation OrderingOral Expression

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

TV TechnicianVideo OperatorMixer OperatorRadio EngineerBoard OperatorAudio OperatorAudio EngineerSignal EngineerStudio EngineerRadio TechnicianMedia TechnicianControl OperatorSound ControllerControl Engineer

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 15

+Adobe InDesign+Microsoft Outlook+Microsoft Word+Dassault Systemes CATIA+UNIX+Cisco IOS+Microsoft PowerPoint+Microsoft Windows+Linux+Avid Technology audio visual editing software+Adobe Photoshop+Adobe Illustrator+Adobe After Effects+Adobe Audition

No longer listed 8

−Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator−Adobe Systems Adobe Premiere Pro software−Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop software−Word processing software−Video encryption software−Data entry software−Avid software−Adobe Systems Adobe After Effects

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

EngineerSound MixerSound PersonVideographerTV TechnicianProgram ClerkBoard OperatorMixer OperatorAudio OperatorStaff EngineerAudio EngineerVideo Operator

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
broadcast technician	3521.2	exact
radio technician	7422.4	close
video technician	3521.1.13	close
audio-visual technician	3521.1	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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