Camera Operators
Median wage · national
$74,990
Range: $51K – $107K
Employed
22K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HUMANITIES
Broadcast Technicians
Broadcast Technicians earn $59,570 nationally at the median. The middle 50% of workers fall between $40,320 and $83,520. Where you land depends on specialization, employer, and experience.
About Broadcast Technicians
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a broadcast technicians: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $59,570
- Employed Nationally
- 21K
- Openings / Year
- 1,600
- Entry Education
- Associate's degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Audio Engineer
Audio Operator
Board Operator
Broadcast Engineer
Broadcast Maintenance Engineer
How Much Do Broadcast Technicians Make?
Most broadcast technicians take home around $59,570 a year, about what a typical college graduate makes. Half earn somewhere between $40,320 and $83,520, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. A solid living in most parts of the country. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$59,570
National Median (Annual)
Near the national median for college graduates.
$40K–$84K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$40,320
Entry-level
$59,570
Median
$83,520
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $67,960, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Broadcast Technicians Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Writing
Who Thrives Here
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
Where Do Broadcast Technicians Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Broadcast Technicians?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by -3.1%, meaning it is shrinking, so expect more competition for fewer roles. Around 1,600 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↘ -3.1%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Declining employment projected.
1,600
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
21K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Broadcast Technicians professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $59,570 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 2,340 | $72,800 | +22.2% |
| 2 | New York | 1,690 | $78,840 | +32.3% |
| 3 | Texas | 1,380 | $49,440 | -17.0% |
| 4 | Florida | 1,130 | $64,950 | +9.0% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 950 | $80,470 | +35.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a associate's degree. The 2 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Communications Technologies/Technicians program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Associate's degree
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | 6,764 | $44,889 | 339 |
| 2 | Communications Technologies/Technicians | 990 | $36,451 | 55 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Broadcast Technicians
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of the Ozarks Point Lookout, MO | 88 | $6,100 | $41,592 |
| 2 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | 88 | $18,809 | $87,555 |
| 3 | De Anza College Cupertino, CA | 85 | $6,642 | $56,596 |
| 4 | Manatee Technical College Bradenton, FL | 85 | $1,808 | $38,129 |
| 5 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL | 84 | $5,463 | $40,654 |
| 6 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA | 83 | $3,337 | $48,224 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Broadcast Technicians, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Broadcast Technicians pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Broadcast Technicians Pros & Cons
Broadcast Technicians has real financial strengths, but declining employment projections deserve careful consideration. The 2 upsides and 3 concerns below are all data-sourced.
PROS
- Competitive salary $59,570 median wage puts this career near or above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a associate's degree, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Declining employment The BLS projects -3.1% employment change through 2035. This field is expected to shrink. Automation, offshoring, or structural industry change are likely factors.
- High earnings variance The gap between the 25th ($40,320) and 75th ($83,520) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, location, and specialization.
- Entry-level pay well below the national median The 25th percentile wage of $40,320 is considerably below the $59,570 median. Early-career workers typically spend 5 or more years building toward typical pay. Factor this into any program ROI calculation.
Broadcast Technicians Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Broadcast Technicians professionals earn?
Around $59,570 a year for the typical worker, near the national median for full-time workers. The middle 50% of earners fall between $40,320 and $83,520. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Broadcast Technicians a good career?
With realistic expectations. The BLS projects -3.1% employment change through 2035. This field is shrinking, not expanding. The $59,570 median wage is competitive, but most openings come from retirements and exits rather than new positions. If you're drawn to this work, differentiate through a specialized niche or adjacent certification that keeps you relevant as the broader field contracts.
How do I become a Broadcast Technicians?
Most Broadcast Technicians positions require a associate's degree as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians are common starting points.
Why are Broadcast Technicians jobs declining?
The BLS projects -3.1% employment change for Broadcast Technicians through 2035. Declining occupations typically face some combination of automation, industry consolidation, offshoring, or reduced consumer demand, rarely a single cause. Despite the overall decline, about 1,600 openings per year are still projected, mostly replacements for workers who retire or leave, not new positions. 21K people currently work in this field, so while it's contracting, active hiring still occurs. Specialization in high-value segments of the role gives the strongest protection.
What skills do Broadcast Technicians professionals need?
Mainly Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, and Writing. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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