Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
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.
Also called: Anchor · Announcer · DJ (Disc Jockey) · Host · Morning Show Host · On-Air Host
Median pay (national)
$45,680
$26,000–$131,780 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
23,880
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
-5.5%
~2,300 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $131,780 versus $26,000 at the bottom 10% — 5.1x. The median of $45,680 leaves roughly 188% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change -5.5% from 2024 to 2034 — a projected decline, against +3% across all occupations. Even so, BLS projects about 2,300 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 49 states with released data, California pays the most for this role (median $73,930, +62% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $22,630 — a 227% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Adobe Audition, Microsoft Office software as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this 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.
- 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.
- Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.
- Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
Tools & technology
- Adobe Audition
- Microsoft Office software
- Zoom
- 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
- Program logging software
- Statistical processing software
- Web browser software
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Knowledge areas
- Communications and Media
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Telecommunications
- Law and Government
- Public Safety and Security
- Sales and Marketing
- Administration and Management