Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Career, Salary and Skills
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $47,340 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 21,240. Wage data is published for 135 locations.
Occupation description
Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media. May play and queue music, announce artist or title of performance, identify station, or interview guests.
O*NET code
27-3011.00
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
National salary and employment
Median annual
$47,340
Hourly median
$22.76
Employment
21,240
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.75 | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.75 | 4.00 |
| Time Management | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Active Learning | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Writing | 3.12 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.38 |
Typical tasks
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Operate control consoles.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
Technology
- Adobe Audition
- Audion Laboratories VoxPro
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- Burli Software Burli Newsroom System
- Dalet Digital Media Systems Dalet Media Life
- Database software
- Enterprise application integration EAI software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Program logging software
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in NYMedian $81,310 · Employment 1,460
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in New York, NYMedian $124,810 · Employment 1,090
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in INMedian $61,760 · Employment 1,040
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in FLMedian $56,360 · Employment 990
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in TNMedian $48,290 · Employment 970
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in TXMedian $49,050 · Employment 960
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in OHMedian $42,440 · Employment 910
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in PAMedian $52,080 · Employment 830
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in NCMedian $47,910 · Employment 830
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in ILMedian $46,720 · Employment 770
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in MNMedian $43,530 · Employment 750
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary in MIMedian $46,640 · Employment 650
Related careers
- Special Effects Artists and AnimatorsNational median $102,030
- Advertising and Promotions ManagersNational median $133,660
- Advertising Sales AgentsNational median $64,820
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and AthletesNational median $82,890
- ActorsNational median not published
- Audiovisual Equipment Installers and RepairersNational median $52,600
- Talent DirectorsNational median $90,360
- Audio and Video TechniciansNational median $58,100
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.