Broadcast Technicians
Broadcast Technicians (SOC 27-4012) earn a median $59,570 a year ($28.64 an hour) in the United States, with 21,110 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What broadcast technicians do
Broadcast technicians set up, run, and maintain the electronic equipment that gathers, edits, and transmits audio and video for radio or television programs. They adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and clarity, and run satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to put programs on the air. Tasks include monitoring and logging transmitter readings, keeping the programming logs that station management and the Federal Communications Commission require, reporting equipment problems and making emergency repairs, and previewing scheduled programs to confirm that signals work and programs are ready. They also play and record programs using automation systems and set up, operate, and maintain station computers and networks. Alternate titles include audio engineer, board operator, and broadcast engineer. Audio and video technicians and sound engineering technicians are counted separately.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported level of education for this occupation is an associate's degree or similar two-year credential.
Also called: Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Board Operator, Broadcast Engineer, Broadcast Maintenance Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $15.09 | $19.38 | $28.64 | $40.16 | $59.46 | $32.68 | 21,110 |
| Annual | $31,390 | $40,320 | $59,570 | $83,520 | $123,670 | $67,960 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where broadcast technicians earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $21.74 | $31.12 | $52.05 | $62.15 | $64.37 | $47.96 | 290 | 0.42 | 3.07 |
| Annual | $45,220 | $64,730 | $108,270 | $129,270 | $133,880 | $99,760 | ||||
| New Hampshire | Hourly | $29.49 | $29.49 | $39.01 | $49.42 | $63.89 | $41.94 | 170 | 0.25 | 1.85 |
| Annual | $61,350 | $61,350 | $81,150 | $102,790 | $132,880 | $87,240 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $13.33 | $21.86 | $38.69 | $61.31 | $78.13 | $40.95 | 950 | 0.16 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $27,720 | $45,460 | $80,470 | $127,520 | $162,500 | $85,180 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.14 | $24.52 | $37.90 | $57.71 | $65.53 | $40.62 | 1,690 | 0.17 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $37,740 | $51,010 | $78,840 | $120,040 | $136,310 | $84,490 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $16.89 | $18.76 | $35.68 | $49.91 | $61.60 | $37.05 | 690 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $35,130 | $39,030 | $74,210 | $103,820 | $128,130 | $77,070 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $18.50 | $23.11 | $35.00 | $46.84 | $62.33 | $38.18 | 2,340 | 0.13 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $38,480 | $48,060 | $72,800 | $97,430 | $129,640 | $79,420 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $18.14 | $24.52 | $37.90 | $57.71 | $65.53 | $40.62 | 1,690 | 0.17 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $37,740 | $51,010 | $78,840 | $120,040 | $136,310 | $84,490 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $14.22 | $19.43 | $23.77 | $35.80 | $46.79 | $28.22 | 1,380 | 0.10 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $29,580 | $40,420 | $49,440 | $74,470 | $97,330 | $58,700 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $15.37 | $21.07 | $31.23 | $46.62 | $59.82 | $34.95 | 1,130 | 0.11 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $31,970 | $43,830 | $64,950 | $96,960 | $124,420 | $72,690 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $13.33 | $21.86 | $38.69 | $61.31 | $78.13 | $40.95 | 950 | 0.16 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $27,720 | $45,460 | $80,470 | $127,520 | $162,500 | $85,180 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $15.78 | $25.78 | $49.60 | $69.64 | $78.24 | $48.87 | 460 | 0.16 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $32,810 | $53,620 | $103,180 | $144,840 | $162,730 | $101,650 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.64 | $27.62 | $46.55 | $63.25 | $75.18 | $46.81 | 2,010 | 0.21 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $42,930 | $57,450 | $96,820 | $131,570 | $156,360 | $97,370 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $17.86 | $22.86 | $46.19 | $49.91 | $62.11 | $40.64 | 520 | 0.12 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $37,140 | $47,540 | $96,060 | $103,820 | $129,180 | $84,530 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $21.16 | $31.90 | $39.25 | $50.39 | $63.86 | $42.37 | 370 | 0.16 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $44,020 | $66,350 | $81,640 | $104,810 | $132,820 | $88,140 | ||||
| Pittsburgh, PA | Hourly | $13.23 | $20.48 | $38.96 | $49.64 | $71.63 | $37.45 | 160 | 0.14 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $27,520 | $42,600 | $81,030 | $103,260 | $149,000 | $77,890 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $20.64 | $27.62 | $46.55 | $63.25 | $75.18 | $46.81 | 2,010 | 0.21 | 1.56 |
| Annual | $42,930 | $57,450 | $96,820 | $131,570 | $156,360 | $97,370 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 960 | 0.15 | 1.13 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $20.44 | $29.81 | $36.06 | $52.05 | $62.78 | $40.46 | 710 | 0.23 | 1.66 |
| Annual | $42,520 | $61,990 | $75,010 | $108,270 | $130,580 | $84,150 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $23.60 | $28.85 | $37.52 | $41.75 | $57.91 | $38.11 | 700 | 0.43 | 3.20 |
| Annual | $49,090 | $60,000 | $78,050 | $86,840 | $120,450 | $79,270 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $21.37 | $29.27 | $37.40 | $55.15 | $79.23 | $44.71 | 540 | 0.23 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $44,450 | $60,890 | $77,790 | $114,710 | $164,800 | $93,000 | ||||
Top industries employing broadcast technicians
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations employ 41.1% of broadcast technicians nationally (8,680 jobs) at a median $46,290 a year ($22.26 an hour), followed by Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (33.5%) and Motion Picture and Video Industries (5.1%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 8,680 | 41.1% | $46,290 | $22.26 |
| Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers NAICS 516200 | 7,070 | 33.5% | $62,610 | $30.10 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 1,080 | 5.1% | $81,150 | $39.01 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 990 | 4.7% | $65,990 | $31.73 |
| Spectator Sports NAICS 711200 | 850 | 4.0% | $74,260 | $35.70 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (21,110). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $44,740 for broadcast technicians in May 2021 and $59,570 in May 2025, with employment of 25,270 and 21,110.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $44,740 | $21.51 | 25,270 |
| May 2022 | $60,700 | $29.19 | 33,020 |
| May 2023 | $57,690 | $27.74 | 26,190 |
| May 2024 | $53,920 | $25.92 | 21,080 |
| May 2025 | $59,570 | $28.64 | 21,110 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $52.05 | $108,270 | $45,220 | $133,880 | 290 | 0.42 | 3.07 |
| 2 | New Hampshire profile | $39.01 | $81,150 | $61,350 | $132,880 | 170 | 0.25 | 1.85 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.69 | $80,470 | $27,720 | $162,500 | 950 | 0.16 | 1.15 |
| 4 | New York profile | $37.90 | $78,840 | $37,740 | $136,310 | 1,690 | 0.17 | 1.28 |
| 5 | Illinois profile | $35.68 | $74,210 | $35,130 | $128,130 | 690 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $35.60 | $74,040 | $45,840 | $111,870 | 820 | 0.29 | 2.11 |
| 7 | Nevada profile | $35.13 | $73,070 | $31,330 | $108,610 | 280 | 0.18 | 1.34 |
| 8 | Arizona profile | $35.12 | $73,040 | $38,300 | $132,820 | 530 | 0.16 | 1.20 |
| 9 | California profile | $35.00 | $72,800 | $38,480 | $129,640 | 2,340 | 0.13 | 0.95 |
| 10 | Florida profile | $31.23 | $64,950 | $31,970 | $124,420 | 1,130 | 0.11 | 0.84 |
| 11 | Maryland profile | $30.79 | $64,030 | $35,880 | $122,990 | 460 | 0.17 | 1.24 |
| 12 | Wisconsin profile | $30.00 | $62,400 | $30,020 | $82,400 | 410 | 0.14 | 1.02 |
| 13 | Washington profile | $29.84 | $62,070 | $37,760 | $96,690 | 270 | 0.08 | 0.57 |
| 14 | Connecticut profile | $28.33 | $58,930 | $45,130 | $102,490 | 700 | 0.41 | 3.04 |
| 15 | Virginia profile | $27.86 | $57,940 | $28,430 | $82,510 | 710 | 0.17 | 1.27 |
| 16 | Maine profile | $26.49 | $55,110 | $40,040 | $82,180 | 90 | 0.14 | 1.05 |
| 17 | New Mexico profile | $24.03 | $49,990 | $37,340 | $73,990 | 80 | 0.10 | 0.71 |
| 18 | Rhode Island profile | $23.84 | $49,580 | $31,200 | $84,720 | 110 | 0.22 | 1.64 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $23.77 | $49,440 | $29,580 | $97,330 | 1,380 | 0.10 | 0.72 |
| 20 | Hawaii profile | $23.65 | $49,200 | $29,120 | $97,550 | 70 | 0.12 | 0.87 |
| 21 | Ohio profile | $23.43 | $48,720 | $24,960 | $99,800 | 430 | 0.08 | 0.57 |
| 22 | North Dakota profile | $23.12 | $48,090 | $27,040 | $85,850 | 80 | 0.20 | 1.45 |
| 23 | North Carolina profile | $22.97 | $47,780 | $35,000 | $88,460 | 580 | 0.12 | 0.87 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $22.95 | $47,730 | $28,660 | $86,540 | 580 | 0.13 | 0.98 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $22.76 | $47,340 | $26,250 | $94,300 | 440 | 0.09 | 0.66 |
| 26 | Tennessee profile | $22.76 | $47,340 | $30,100 | $78,870 | 400 | 0.12 | 0.89 |
| 27 | Alabama profile | $22.74 | $47,290 | $27,680 | $79,410 | 220 | 0.10 | 0.76 |
| 28 | Massachusetts profile | $22.72 | $47,260 | $36,370 | $82,920 | 560 | 0.15 | 1.14 |
| 29 | South Carolina profile | $22.53 | $46,860 | $30,630 | $82,010 | 210 | 0.09 | 0.66 |
| 30 | Iowa profile | $22.51 | $46,820 | $23,320 | $79,050 | 180 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| 31 | Minnesota profile | $22.49 | $46,790 | $32,160 | $80,040 | 330 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| 32 | Montana profile | $22.41 | $46,600 | $35,890 | $87,140 | 60 | 0.11 | 0.83 |
| 33 | Idaho profile | $21.50 | $44,730 | $24,680 | $109,990 | 90 | 0.11 | 0.80 |
| 34 | Oklahoma profile | $21.41 | $44,530 | $20,490 | $97,640 | 240 | 0.14 | 1.03 |
| 35 | Louisiana profile | $21.37 | $44,440 | $28,800 | $77,280 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.46 |
| 36 | Oregon profile | $21.36 | $44,420 | $31,900 | $75,930 | 220 | 0.11 | 0.82 |
| 37 | Indiana profile | $21.35 | $44,400 | $35,410 | $74,260 | 760 | 0.24 | 1.76 |
| 38 | Nebraska profile | $21.00 | $43,680 | $28,080 | $68,430 | 160 | 0.16 | 1.18 |
| 39 | Arkansas profile | $20.13 | $41,870 | $23,760 | $62,580 | 220 | 0.17 | 1.24 |
| 40 | Kansas profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $21,520 | $130,000 | 90 | 0.06 | 0.47 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $20.00 | $41,600 | $31,650 | $81,890 | 300 | 0.10 | 0.75 |
| 42 | Kentucky profile | $19.35 | $40,240 | $18,510 | $70,880 | 230 | 0.12 | 0.85 |
| 43 | Wyoming profile | $18.93 | $39,380 | $25,950 | $65,230 | 50 | 0.18 | 1.29 |
| 44 | South Dakota profile | $15.46 | $32,150 | $27,270 | $55,360 | 40 | 0.10 | 0.71 |
| 45 | Utah profile | $15.14 | $31,490 | $22,110 | $81,060 | 300 | 0.17 | 1.27 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $13.34 | $27,750 | $23,310 | $63,210 | 60 | 0.05 | 0.38 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $13.13 | $27,310 | $21,140 | $60,820 | 120 | 0.17 | 1.24 |
| – | New Jersey profile | * | * | * | * | 790 | 0.18 | 1.36 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-4010), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 27-4012 Broadcast Technicians.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-4012, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-4012.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.