Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Arts, Audio/Video Technology and CommunicationsO*NET 27-3011.00United States
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.
- Median annual earnings
- $46,598
- Projected change
- −1.3%
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Employment
- 24.11K jobs
50th percentile, United States
2025 to 2035
35.2% of the workforce
Growing to 23.8K by 2035
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ASU learning related to this career
These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.
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The work
What broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys do
Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- 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.
- Develop story lines for broadcasts.
- Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
- Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
- Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.
- Comment on music and other matters, such as weather or traffic conditions.
- Make promotional appearances at public or private events to represent their employers.
- Provide commentary and conduct interviews during sporting events, parades, conventions, or other events.
- Host civic, charitable, or promotional events broadcast over television or radio.
- Locate guests to appear on talk or interview shows.
- Coordinate games, contests, or other on-air competitions, performing such duties as asking questions and awarding prizes.
- Attend press conferences to gather information for broadcast.
Pay and outlook
What the job pays and where it is heading
Annual earnings range
Reported earnings by percentile, United States
- 10th percentile
- $25,621
- 25th percentile
- $33,196
- 50th percentile
- $46,598
- 75th percentile
- $78,328
- 90th percentile
- $138,341
The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $46,598 and half earn less.
Employment outlook
2025 to 2035 projection
−1.3%projected to decline
202524,109 jobs
2035 projected23,799 jobs
310 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.
Preparation
Education levels
What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.
- Bachelor's degree
- 35.2%
- Some college
- 30.3%
- High school diploma or less
- 26.8%
- Master's or Professional degree
- 5.2%
- Associate degree
- 2.5%
Skills
Skills employers ask for
Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.
How the work gets done
Core competencies
Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.
- Speaking
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Reading Comprehension
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Critical Thinking
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Social Perceptiveness
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Time Management
- Managing one's own time and the time of others.
- Writing
- Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Active Learning
- Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Coordination
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Monitoring
- Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Complex Problem Solving
- Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Service Orientation
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Persuasion
- Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Negotiation
- Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Operation and Control
- Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Instructing
- Teaching others how to do something.
- Systems Evaluation
- Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
- Operations Monitoring
- Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Learning Strategies
- Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
In the market
Job titles and employers
Recent job postings in United StatesCommon job titles
- 01Customs and Border Protection Officers78 postings
- 02On-Air Personalities62 postings
- 03Podcasters57 postings
- 04Board Operators18 postings
- 05Master Control Operators18 postings
- 06On-Air Talents18 postings
- 07Podcast Producers17 postings
- 08Play-by-Play Announcers15 postings
- 09Radio Announcers15 postings
- 10Play-by-Play Commentators14 postings
- 11Summer Interns12 postings
- 12Interns11 postings
- 13Directors of Broadcasting and Media Relations10 postings
- 14Programming Interns9 postings
- 15Broadcasters8 postings
- 16Audio Engineers7 postings
- 17Broadcasting Interns7 postings
- 18Broadcast Assistants6 postings
- 19Chief Executive Officers6 postings
- 20Morning Show Hosts6 postings
Top employers
- 01United States Department of Homeland Security78 postings
- 02Audacy Corporation38 postings
- 03Connoisseur Media22 postings
- 04Cumulus Media14 postings
- 05Melrose Podcasts12 postings
- 06iHeartMedia11 postings
- 07Graymedia9 postings
- 08Sirius XM Canada9 postings
- 09Cox Media Group7 postings
- 10Hww7 postings
- 11Ballertv6 postings
- 12Gray Television6 postings
- 13Midwest Communications6 postings
- 14Sirius|Xm6 postings
- 15Alpha Media5 postings
- 16Foglight5 postings
- 17Forest River5 postings
- 18Insight Global5 postings
- 19Northley Middle School5 postings
- 20Perfect Game USA5 postings
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