Media Programming Directors Career, Salary and Skills
Media Programming Directors have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $90,360 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 143,120. Wage data is published for 265 locations.
Occupation description
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
O*NET code
27-2012.03
Job zone
4
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$90,360
Hourly median
$43.44
Employment
143,120
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 4.25 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.12 | 4.00 |
| Time Management | 4.00 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | 4.00 | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Active Learning | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.88 | 3.75 |
Typical tasks
- Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
- Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
- Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
- Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
- Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
- Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
- Perform personnel duties, such as hiring staff and evaluating work performance.
- Coordinate activities between departments, such as news and programming.
Technology
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Applicant tracking software
- Avid Technology iNEWS
- Broadcast Electronics AudioVAULT FleX
- Content management systems CMS
- Email software
- FileMaker Pro
- Google Analytics
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- Microsoft Excel
Media Programming Directors salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Media Programming Directors Salary in CAMedian $129,790 · Employment 34,110
- Media Programming Directors Salary in NYMedian $107,550 · Employment 27,990
- Media Programming Directors Salary in New York, NYMedian $108,460 · Employment 27,020
- Media Programming Directors Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $131,600 · Employment 21,910
- Media Programming Directors Salary in FLMedian $79,920 · Employment 7,160
- Media Programming Directors Salary in TXMedian $71,710 · Employment 6,610
- Media Programming Directors Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $130,640 · Employment 5,030
- Media Programming Directors Salary in GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 5,010
- Media Programming Directors Salary in Washington, DCMedian $100,270 · Employment 4,230
- Media Programming Directors Salary in PAMedian $75,460 · Employment 4,200
- Media Programming Directors Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 3,840
- Media Programming Directors Salary in NCMedian $63,700 · Employment 3,500
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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.