Media Technical Directors/Managers Career, Salary and Skills
Media Technical Directors/Managers 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
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
O*NET code
27-2012.05
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 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Coordination | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.62 | 4.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.62 | 3.62 |
| Time Management | 3.50 | 3.75 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.38 | 3.62 |
Typical tasks
- Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
- Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
- Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
- Monitor broadcasts to ensure that programs conform to station or network policies and regulations.
- Operate equipment to produce programs or broadcast live programs from remote locations.
- Test equipment to ensure proper operation.
- Train workers in use of equipment, such as switchers, cameras, monitors, microphones, and lights.
- Act as liaisons between engineering and production departments.
Technology
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)
- Adobe Photoshop
- Apple Final Cut Pro
- Atlassian JIRA
- Autodesk Maya
- Avid Technology audio visual editing software
- Avid Technology Media Composer
- Avid Technology Pro Tools
- C
- C++
- Character generator software
Media Technical Directors/Managers salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in CAMedian $129,790 · Employment 34,110
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in NYMedian $107,550 · Employment 27,990
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in New York, NYMedian $108,460 · Employment 27,020
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $131,600 · Employment 21,910
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in FLMedian $79,920 · Employment 7,160
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in TXMedian $71,710 · Employment 6,610
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in San Francisco, CAMedian $130,640 · Employment 5,030
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 5,010
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in Washington, DCMedian $100,270 · Employment 4,230
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in PAMedian $75,460 · Employment 4,200
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in Atlanta, GAMedian $79,950 · Employment 3,840
- Media Technical Directors/Managers Salary in NCMedian $63,700 · Employment 3,500
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- Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsNational median $99,130
- Computer Network Support SpecialistsNational median $76,220
- Sound Engineering TechniciansNational median $73,130
- First-Line Supervisors of Entertainment and Recreation Workers, Except Gambling ServicesNational median $48,560
- 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.