Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other (SOC 27-4099) earn a median $70,720 a year ($34.00 an hour) in the United States, with 12,450 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Virginia.
What media and communication equipment workers, all other do
This residual category covers media and communication equipment workers whose jobs do not fit the specific codes for audio and video, broadcast, sound engineering, lighting, photography, camera, or film editing work. O*NET's alternate titles give examples, including satellite communications operators, densitometer readers, radar operators, spotlight operators, and dimmer board operators. The source definition is a single line, and O*NET lists no core tasks for this code, so the duties are not described in detail. Workers whose jobs match a specific code are counted there instead. Because the heading is a catch-all, the actual duties depend on the equipment involved, and the titles suggest work that centers on operating or monitoring specialized devices. The titles vary widely, so the heading alone says little about a particular worker's day.
Also called: Best Worker, Densitometer Reader, Dimmer Board Operator, Radar Operator, Satellite Communications Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.69 | $23.72 | $34.00 | $51.34 | $65.13 | $38.96 | 12,450 |
| Annual | $38,870 | $49,340 | $70,720 | $106,780 | $135,470 | $81,040 | ||
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 media and communication equipment workers, all other 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 | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $27.13 | $43.28 | $56.56 | $66.84 | $75.36 | $55.27 | 400 | 0.10 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $56,420 | $90,020 | $117,640 | $139,030 | $156,750 | $114,970 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $25.51 | $34.27 | $47.75 | $56.78 | $67.11 | $47.33 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $53,050 | $71,280 | $99,320 | $118,100 | $139,590 | $98,440 | ||||
| Michigan | Hourly | $13.80 | $16.37 | $46.41 | $59.10 | $79.17 | $42.77 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.15 |
| Annual | $28,710 | $34,040 | $96,530 | $122,930 | $164,670 | $88,960 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $29.07 | $33.76 | $46.20 | $60.21 | $68.59 | $48.89 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| Annual | $60,470 | $70,220 | $96,100 | $125,240 | $142,670 | $101,690 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $35.90 | $39.06 | $44.27 | $55.94 | $68.22 | $48.69 | 90 | 0.09 | 1.11 |
| Annual | $74,670 | $81,240 | $92,080 | $116,360 | $141,900 | $101,280 | ||||
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 | $20.29 | $24.75 | $31.04 | $50.41 | $65.97 | $39.11 | 3,890 | 0.21 | 2.67 |
| Annual | $42,210 | $51,480 | $64,550 | $104,840 | $137,220 | $81,350 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $16.77 | $19.27 | $23.14 | $36.73 | $56.31 | $29.66 | 910 | 0.19 | 2.34 |
| Annual | $34,880 | $40,080 | $48,120 | $76,400 | $117,120 | $61,700 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $21.32 | $23.90 | $33.12 | $63.85 | $75.36 | $44.88 | 760 | 0.27 | 3.41 |
| Annual | $44,350 | $49,700 | $68,880 | $132,810 | $156,750 | $93,340 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $17.38 | $21.83 | $41.52 | $57.00 | $67.60 | $41.51 | 580 | 0.20 | 2.52 |
| Annual | $36,150 | $45,410 | $86,370 | $118,560 | $140,610 | $86,340 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $19.15 | $23.54 | $36.35 | $54.74 | $57.19 | $38.78 | 580 | 0.10 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $39,830 | $48,960 | $75,600 | $113,860 | $118,950 | $80,660 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Salinas, CA | Hourly | $46.33 | $60.36 | $63.91 | $67.46 | $71.02 | $61.43 | 40 | 0.23 | 2.92 |
| Annual | $96,370 | $125,550 | $132,930 | $140,320 | $147,720 | $127,770 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $23.90 | $40.58 | $58.50 | $69.56 | $77.78 | $55.58 | 670 | 0.22 | 2.69 |
| Annual | $49,700 | $84,410 | $121,680 | $144,680 | $161,780 | $115,610 | ||||
| Colorado Springs, CO | Hourly | $38.45 | $47.42 | $56.85 | $63.64 | $68.92 | $54.90 | 230 | 0.72 | 8.94 |
| Annual | $79,980 | $98,630 | $118,250 | $132,370 | $143,350 | $114,200 | ||||
| Fayetteville, NC | Hourly | $37.83 | $45.97 | $54.87 | $58.19 | $63.48 | $51.82 | 60 | 0.43 | 5.42 |
| Annual | $78,690 | $95,620 | $114,130 | $121,040 | $132,040 | $107,790 | ||||
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | Hourly | $34.83 | $46.95 | $53.97 | $60.79 | $65.86 | $52.36 | 100 | 0.07 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $72,440 | $97,660 | $112,260 | $126,440 | $136,990 | $108,900 | ||||
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 | $21.46 | $24.73 | $31.03 | $49.49 | $76.92 | $39.78 | 2,110 | 0.34 | 4.21 |
| Annual | $44,630 | $51,440 | $64,540 | $102,930 | $159,990 | $82,750 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $23.90 | $40.58 | $58.50 | $69.56 | $77.78 | $55.58 | 670 | 0.22 | 2.69 |
| Annual | $49,700 | $84,410 | $121,680 | $144,680 | $161,780 | $115,610 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $17.20 | $20.27 | $23.14 | $36.55 | $57.86 | $30.24 | 520 | 0.18 | 2.27 |
| Annual | $35,770 | $42,160 | $48,120 | $76,020 | $120,360 | $62,900 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.83 | $25.00 | $32.04 | $42.27 | $53.45 | $35.92 | 440 | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $37,090 | $52,010 | $66,650 | $87,920 | $111,170 | $74,710 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $20.53 | $29.53 | $53.26 | $54.57 | $54.66 | $43.12 | 420 | 0.18 | 2.20 |
| Annual | $42,690 | $61,430 | $110,780 | $113,510 | $113,690 | $89,680 | ||||
Top industries employing media and communication equipment workers, all other
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 28.8% of media and communication equipment workers, all other nationally (3,580 jobs) at a median $114,110 a year ($54.86 an hour), followed by Motion Picture and Video Industries (21.7%) and Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events (4.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 3,580 | 28.8% | $114,110 | $54.86 |
| Motion Picture and Video Industries NAICS 512100 | 2,700 | 21.7% | $64,320 | $30.92 |
| Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events NAICS 711300 | 570 | 4.6% | $54,060 | $25.99 |
| Performing Arts Companies NAICS 711100 | 550 | 4.4% | $59,160 | $28.44 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 550 | 4.4% | $69,920 | $33.61 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (12,450). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $63,250 for media and communication equipment workers, all other in May 2021 and $70,720 in May 2025, with employment of 16,670 and 12,450.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $63,250 | $30.41 | 16,670 |
| May 2022 | $69,490 | $33.41 | 14,300 |
| May 2023 | $71,340 | $34.30 | 11,430 |
| May 2024 | $67,190 | $32.30 | 13,020 |
| May 2025 | $70,720 | $34.00 | 12,450 |
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
36 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 | Virginia profile | $56.56 | $117,640 | $56,420 | $156,750 | 400 | 0.10 | 1.22 |
| 2 | Arizona profile | $47.75 | $99,320 | $53,050 | $139,590 | 130 | 0.04 | 0.50 |
| 3 | Michigan profile | $46.41 | $96,530 | $28,710 | $164,670 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.15 |
| 4 | Alabama profile | $46.20 | $96,100 | $60,470 | $142,670 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.21 |
| 5 | Nebraska profile | $44.27 | $92,080 | $74,670 | $141,900 | 90 | 0.09 | 1.11 |
| 6 | Colorado profile | $41.52 | $86,370 | $36,150 | $140,610 | 580 | 0.20 | 2.52 |
| 7 | Louisiana profile | $41.47 | $86,260 | $40,930 | $130,680 | 190 | 0.10 | 1.21 |
| 8 | Florida profile | $41.46 | $86,230 | $39,310 | $134,250 | 540 | 0.05 | 0.68 |
| 9 | North Carolina profile | $37.83 | $78,690 | $37,880 | $124,720 | 180 | 0.04 | 0.46 |
| 10 | Minnesota profile | $37.48 | $77,960 | $52,310 | $149,340 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.23 |
| 11 | Utah profile | $36.92 | $76,790 | $40,820 | $109,300 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.89 |
| 12 | Texas profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $30,350 | $126,050 | 540 | 0.04 | 0.48 |
| 13 | New York profile | $36.55 | $76,020 | $37,090 | $119,430 | 200 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania profile | $36.35 | $75,600 | $39,830 | $118,950 | 580 | 0.10 | 1.18 |
| 15 | South Carolina profile | $35.58 | $74,010 | $33,170 | $115,210 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.25 |
| 16 | Connecticut profile | $35.29 | $73,400 | $34,010 | $148,830 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.26 |
| 17 | Illinois profile | $34.82 | $72,430 | $31,200 | $133,270 | 140 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 18 | Ohio profile | $34.43 | $71,610 | $37,790 | $120,200 | 210 | 0.04 | 0.46 |
| 19 | New Jersey profile | $33.79 | $70,280 | $44,870 | $105,920 | 490 | 0.11 | 1.42 |
| 20 | Maryland profile | $33.12 | $68,880 | $44,350 | $156,750 | 760 | 0.27 | 3.41 |
| 21 | Oregon profile | $32.61 | $67,830 | $43,690 | $95,850 | 260 | 0.13 | 1.65 |
| 22 | California profile | $31.04 | $64,550 | $42,210 | $137,220 | 3,890 | 0.21 | 2.67 |
| 23 | Massachusetts profile | $29.31 | $60,960 | $34,040 | $131,290 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.30 |
| 24 | Hawaii profile | $27.36 | $56,900 | $30,720 | $132,020 | 280 | 0.45 | 5.59 |
| 25 | Nevada profile | $26.27 | $54,650 | $53,220 | $93,540 | 330 | 0.22 | 2.68 |
| 26 | Missouri profile | $25.71 | $53,480 | $39,070 | $140,460 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.31 |
| 27 | Maine profile | $24.50 | $50,960 | $41,280 | $112,260 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.72 |
| 28 | Mississippi profile | $23.84 | $49,590 | $40,140 | $100,420 | 70 | 0.06 | 0.79 |
| 29 | Georgia profile | $23.14 | $48,120 | $34,880 | $117,120 | 910 | 0.19 | 2.34 |
| 30 | New Mexico profile | $23.12 | $48,090 | $37,570 | $116,460 | 100 | 0.11 | 1.41 |
| 31 | New Hampshire profile | $22.61 | $47,040 | $32,280 | $66,870 | 100 | 0.14 | 1.78 |
| 32 | Tennessee profile | $20.37 | $42,370 | $32,980 | $112,480 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
| 33 | Montana profile | $17.73 | $36,890 | $32,280 | $115,210 | 50 | 0.11 | 1.31 |
| – | Indiana profile | * | * | * | * | 30 | 0.01 | 0.12 |
| – | Washington profile | * | * | * | * | 170 | 0.05 | 0.60 |
| – | Wisconsin profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.03 | 0.40 |
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 27-4099 Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other.
*- 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 27-4099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 27-4099.00, 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.