Disc Jockeys, Except Radio
Disc Jockeys, Except Radio (SOC 27-2091) earn a median $21.61 an hour in the United States, with 7,920 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What disc jockeys, except radio do
Disc jockeys outside radio play prerecorded music for live audiences at places and events such as clubs, parties, or wedding receptions. They may mix, cut, or sample recordings to manipulate them, and may also serve as emcee, or master of ceremonies. Alternate titles include club DJ, deejay, DJ assistant, and emcee. O*NET lists no core tasks for this code, so the description rests on the SOC definition and the titles. Radio disc jockeys, who speak to a broadcast audience, are counted with broadcast announcers, a different occupation. Musicians and singers, audio and video technicians, and sound engineering technicians are also excluded from this occupation and counted in their own codes. The definition centers on playing existing recordings for an audience in person, which separates the work from performing music live or operating sound equipment for others.
Also called: Announcer, Club Disc Jockey, Deejay, Disc Jockey, DJ.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $13.50 | $16.91 | $21.61 | $37.50 | $60.17 | $32.57 | 7,920 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||
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 disc jockeys, except radio 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 | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $27.73 | $28.65 | $54.55 | $68.18 | $132.90 | $62.89 | 70 | 0.11 | 2.22 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $10.74 | $15.52 | $27.69 | $50.00 | $66.93 | $34.88 | 360 | 0.12 | 2.42 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| South Dakota | Hourly | $19.32 | $20.00 | $27.27 | $28.83 | $34.20 | $26.68 | 50 | 0.10 | 1.97 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $8.73 | $13.42 | $26.30 | $35.00 | $49.72 | $26.09 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.41 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.73 | $21.26 | $25.51 | $31.90 | $50.20 | $32.17 | 450 | 0.05 | 0.91 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
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 | * | * | * | * | * | * | 2,190 | 0.12 | 2.36 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $10.26 | $12.64 | $18.06 | $23.25 | $26.51 | $19.72 | 820 | 0.06 | 1.14 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $16.73 | $21.26 | $25.51 | $31.90 | $50.20 | $32.17 | 450 | 0.05 | 0.91 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 360 | 0.08 | 1.62 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Missouri | Hourly | $13.75 | $14.13 | $15.83 | $20.96 | $31.93 | $20.09 | 360 | 0.12 | 2.39 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $27.64 | $28.65 | $45.29 | $54.55 | $61.24 | $47.16 | 50 | 0.10 | 2.05 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $13.60 | $24.31 | $38.06 | $49.37 | $79.28 | $42.43 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.09 | $21.30 | $29.07 | $42.07 | $74.99 | $37.49 | 410 | 0.04 | 0.85 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | Hourly | $18.90 | $20.36 | $27.27 | $30.89 | $34.20 | $27.23 | 30 | 0.17 | 3.38 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Green Bay, WI | Hourly | $15.00 | $18.57 | $26.78 | $50.92 | $70.98 | $38.53 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,450 | 0.23 | 4.55 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $16.09 | $21.30 | $29.07 | $42.07 | $74.99 | $37.49 | 410 | 0.04 | 0.85 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $10.93 | $14.69 | $22.20 | $24.23 | $27.03 | $22.07 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.85 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.21 | 4.06 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| St. Louis, MO-IL | Hourly | $14.13 | $14.13 | $16.84 | $23.82 | $38.82 | $21.39 | 170 | 0.12 | 2.44 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Top industries employing disc jockeys, except radio
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers employ 44.1% of disc jockeys, except radio nationally (3,490 jobs) at a median $24.23 an hour, followed by Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (25.1%) and Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers NAICS 711500 | 3,490 | 44.1% | * | $24.23 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) NAICS 722400 | 1,990 | 25.1% | * | $20.00 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries NAICS 713900 | 610 | 7.7% | * | $16.86 |
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 320 | 4.0% | * | $48.98 |
| Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations NAICS 516100 | 150 | 1.9% | * | $15.39 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,920). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
25 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 | Hawaii profile | $54.55 | * | * | * | 70 | 0.11 | 2.22 |
| 2 | Wisconsin profile | $27.69 | * | * | * | 360 | 0.12 | 2.42 |
| 3 | South Dakota profile | $27.27 | * | * | * | 50 | 0.10 | 1.97 |
| 4 | North Carolina profile | $26.30 | * | * | * | 100 | 0.02 | 0.41 |
| 5 | New York profile | $25.51 | * | * | * | 450 | 0.05 | 0.91 |
| 6 | Illinois profile | $22.87 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Washington profile | $22.79 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Idaho profile | $22.33 | * | * | * | 100 | 0.12 | 2.37 |
| 9 | Arizona profile | $22.15 | * | * | * | 80 | 0.03 | 0.49 |
| 10 | Tennessee profile | $21.75 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | Colorado profile | $20.91 | * | * | * | 60 | 0.02 | 0.39 |
| 12 | Georgia profile | $20.69 | * | * | * | 140 | 0.03 | 0.57 |
| 13 | Texas profile | $18.06 | * | * | * | 820 | 0.06 | 1.14 |
| 14 | Florida profile | $16.40 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Missouri profile | $15.83 | * | * | * | 360 | 0.12 | 2.39 |
| 16 | Oregon profile | $15.55 | * | * | * | 40 | 0.02 | 0.38 |
| 17 | Nevada profile | $12.00 | * | * | * | ** | ** | ** |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 2,190 | 0.12 | 2.36 |
| – | Iowa profile | * | * | * | * | 130 | 0.08 | 1.59 |
| – | Massachusetts profile | * | * | * | * | 150 | 0.04 | 0.79 |
| – | Michigan profile | * | * | * | * | 360 | 0.08 | 1.62 |
| – | Nebraska profile | * | * | * | * | 80 | 0.08 | 1.54 |
| – | New Jersey profile | * | * | * | * | 220 | 0.05 | 1.02 |
| – | Ohio profile | * | * | * | * | 190 | 0.03 | 0.67 |
| – | Pennsylvania profile | * | * | * | * | 100 | 0.02 | 0.33 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (27-2090), 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 27-2091 Disc Jockeys, Except Radio.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment 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. A withheld or top-coded median in that table shows the marker explained above.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 27-2091, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-2091.00, 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).
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.