Careers / Broadcast Technicians
Broadcast Technicians — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$59,570
United States, 2025
Employment
21,110
United States, 2025
Typical education
Not recorded
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 27-4012.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical tasks
- Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
- Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
- Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
- Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
- Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
- Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.
- Monitor and log transmitter readings.
- Regulate the fidelity, brightness, and contrast of video transmissions, using video console control panels.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$31,390
25th percentile
$40,320
75th percentile
$83,520
90th percentile
$123,670
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Listening3.6
- Operation and Control3.4
- Reading Comprehension3.3
- Systems Evaluation3.3
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Quality Control Analysis3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Complex Problem Solving3.1
- Writing3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 20 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
20
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.3 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Operation and Control | 3.4 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Repairing | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Speaking | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Broadcast TechniciansHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | $108,270 | 290 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $103,180 | 460 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $96,820 | 2,010 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $96,060 | 520 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $81,640 | 370 | 2025 |
| NH | $81,150 | 170 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $81,030 | 160 | 2025 |
| PA | $80,470 | 950 | 2025 |
| Buffalo, NY | $79,520 | 70 | 2025 |
| NY | $78,840 | 1,690 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $78,050 | 700 | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $77,790 | 540 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | $77,550 | 130 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $75,010 | 710 | 2025 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $74,890 | 210 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $74,760 | 130 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $74,490 | 510 | 2025 |
| IL | $74,210 | 690 | 2025 |
| CO | $74,040 | 820 | 2025 |
| NV | $73,070 | 280 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Broadcast Technicians to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.