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Broadcast engineer: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 29, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,570median pay per year, or $28.64 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $31,390lowest 10% earn less
  2. $40,32025th percentile
  3. $59,570median
  4. $83,52075th percentile
  5. $123,670top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

A broadcast engineer, which BLS calls a broadcast technician, had a median pay of $59,570 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to fall 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
-3.1%[2]
Openings per year
1,600[6]
Typical entry education
Associate's degree[7]

How much do broadcast engineers make?

The median pay for broadcast technicians was $59,570 a year, or $28.64 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $67,960 a year, or $32.68 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[5].

Pay spreads widely. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $31,390 a year and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $40,320[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $83,520, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $123,670[4]. BLS does not publish a starting salary, and each percentile is a cutoff point[9].

Measure Annual pay Hourly pay
10th percentile[4][10] $31,390 $15.09
25th percentile[4][10] $40,320 $19.38
Median[1] $59,570 $28.64
75th percentile[4][10] $83,520 $40.16
90th percentile[4][10] $123,670 $59.46

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits, and they do not count some bonuses[11]. About 11.3% of broadcast technicians were self-employed in 2025[12].

Pay by state and city

The District of Columbia had the highest median at $108,270, followed by New Hampshire at $81,150 and Pennsylvania at $80,470[13]. California had the most jobs, 2,340, then New York with 1,690 and Texas with 1,380[14].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington had the highest median at $103,180, followed by New York-Newark-Jersey City at $96,820 and Chicago-Naperville-Elgin at $96,060[15]. The New York metro area also had the most jobs, 2,010, and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim came next with 960[16].

Show median pay in 46 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
District of Columbia[13]$108,270290
New Hampshire$81,150170
Pennsylvania$80,470950
New York$78,8401,690
Illinois$74,210690
Colorado$74,040820
Nevada$73,070280
Arizona$73,040530
California$72,8002,340
Florida$64,9501,130
Maryland$64,030460
Wisconsin$62,400410
Washington$62,070270
Connecticut$58,930700
Virginia$57,940710
Maine$55,11090
New Mexico$49,99080
Rhode Island$49,580110
Texas$49,4401,380
Hawaii$49,20070
Ohio$48,720430
North Dakota$48,09080
North Carolina$47,780580
Michigan$47,730580
Georgia$47,340440
Tennessee$47,340400
Alabama$47,290220
Massachusetts$47,260560
South Carolina$46,860210
Iowa$46,820180
Minnesota$46,790330
Montana$46,60060
Idaho$44,73090
Oklahoma$44,530240
Louisiana$44,440120
Oregon$44,420220
Indiana$44,400760
Nebraska$43,680160
Arkansas$41,870220
Kansas$41,60090
Missouri$41,600300
Kentucky$40,240230
Wyoming$39,38050
South Dakota$32,15040
Utah$31,490300
Mississippi$27,75060
West Virginia$27,310120

How to become a broadcast engineer

BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical education for entry, with no related work experience and short-term on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of broadcast, sound and video jobs[17].

A bachelor's degree is typically not required, though one in a related field may help[22]. Voluntary certification is not required by most employers, but it may help in getting a job. Most certifications involve passing an exam[23]. Experience in a school or college audiovisual department can also help[24].

Many technicians start at small stations and later move to larger stations that pay better. Few large stations hire someone without experience[25]. Chief broadcast engineers at large television stations typically need a bachelor's degree in either engineering or computer science[26].

What broadcast engineers do

O*NET describes the job as setting up, running and maintaining electronic equipment that captures, edits and sends audio and video for radio or television[27]. Common tasks include:

Where they work

In the BLS profile for the wider group, technicians usually work inside studios for radio, television, movies or recording. They may work outdoors to cover news on location[29]. Maintenance work can involve climbing poles or antenna towers, and setting up equipment may involve heavy lifting[30]. Technicians usually work full time, and evening, weekend and holiday work is common because stations are on the air around the clock[31]. The largest employer group is publishing, broadcasting and content providers, at 16%[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 24,100 to 23,300 jobs[2]. Across all occupations, the projected change is growth of 3.5%[3]. BLS names technology, including artificial intelligence, as a factor, because it lets technicians do more tasks onsite and from remote locations[33]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, while OEWS counted about 21,110 wage and salary jobs in May 2025[34][2].

Even so, BLS expects about 1,600 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs left by people who retire or change occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 2.3% of workers leave the labor force and 4.8% move to a different occupation[35].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is above the all-occupations median, and the range is wide[1][5][4]. The typical entry education is an associate's degree[7]. Employment is projected to shrink, though openings still occur each year[2][6]. This job may suit people who like working with electronic equipment and can handle evening, weekend and holiday work[27][31].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[36].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a broadcast engineer make an hour?
The median was $28.64 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $32.68[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a broadcast engineer?
BLS lists an associate's degree as the typical education for entry[7].
Is broadcast engineer a growing job?
BLS projects a 3.1% decline from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[2][3]. About 1,600 openings a year are still expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for broadcast engineers?
The District of Columbia had the highest median at $108,270 a year[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Broadcast Technicians in the US was $59,570 per year and $28.64 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Broadcast Technicians is projected to decline 3.1% from 2025 to 2035, from about 24,100 to 23,300 jobs (a change of -800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Broadcast Technicians: 10th percentile $31,390, 25th percentile $40,320, 75th percentile $83,520, 90th percentile $123,670. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,600 openings for Broadcast Technicians are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Broadcast Technicians: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Broadcast Technicians was $67,960 per year and $32.68 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Broadcast Technicians: 10th percentile $15.09, 25th percentile $19.38, 75th percentile $40.16, 90th percentile $59.46. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS Employment Projections: 11.3% of Broadcast Technicians were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  13. Median annual wage for Broadcast Technicians in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Broadcast Technicians jobs: California 2,340; New York 1,690; Texas 1,380; Florida 1,130; Pennsylvania 950. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Broadcast Technicians (areas with at least 100 jobs): Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $103,180; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $96,820; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $96,060; Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $81,640; Pittsburgh, PA $81,030; Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO $78,050; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $77,790; Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA $77,550. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Broadcast Technicians jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 2,010 (median $96,820); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 960; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 710 (median $75,010); Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO 700 (median $78,050); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 540 (median $77,790); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 520 (median $96,060). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Broadcast, Sound, and Video Technicians" covers Broadcast Technicians together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Other Experience. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. O*NET description of Broadcast Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Broadcast Technicians. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of broadcast, sound, and video technicians in 2025: Publishing, broadcasting, and content providers 16%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Broadcast Technicians: Productivity change - share decreases as technology including artificial intelligence (AI) allow technicians to perform more activities onsite and in remote locations. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 21,110 people were employed as Broadcast Technicians in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  35. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Broadcast Technicians: 2.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.8% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.