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. Excludes “News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists” (27-3023).
National median · BLS
$47,340
▲ +3.63%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$78,720
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
21,240
Jobs (BLS)
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Enter your pay and a location to see where you stand against BLS and H-1B pay, your estimated take-home pay, and your purchasing power.
Pay range for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$28,190
25th
$35,360
Median (50th)
$47,340
75th
$75,480
90th — top pay
$138,440
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
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Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
BLS projects employment of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys to decline 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 2,000 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
21,800 → 20,200
-1,700 jobs
Projected change
-7.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,000
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
No related experience required
Self-employed
2.3% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 4)
Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salaries by state
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
State
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
Profile
Skills & tools
Skills needed for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Speaking4.8
Active Listening4.0
Reading Comprehension3.9
Critical Thinking3.8
Social Perceptiveness3.8
Time Management3.3
Active Learning3.1
Writing3.1
Complex Problem Solving3.0
Coordination3.0
Top knowledge areas
Communications and Media4.8
English Language4.7
Computers and Electronics3.8
Telecommunications3.7
Law and Government2.7
Public Safety and Security2.6
Sales and Marketing2.5
Administration and Management2.5
Software and technology used
Microsoft Office softwareAdobe AuditionMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordZoomAudion Laboratories VoxProAvid Technology Pro ToolsBurli Software Burli Newsroom SystemDalet Digital Media Systems Dalet Media LifeDatabase softwareEnterprise application integration EAI softwareProgram logging softwareStatistical processing softwareWeb browser software
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: 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.
About the job
What broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys do
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.
Board OperatorBroadcasterCommercial AnnouncerEntertainerGame Show HostHostessMorning News AnchorNews AnchorNews BroadcasterNewscasterOn-Air AnnouncerOn-Air TalentPlay-by-Play CommentatorPodcasterProgram HostPublic Address AnnouncerRadio ArtistRadio BroadcasterRadio DJ (Radio Disc Jockey)Radio DJ (Radio Disk Jockey)Radio HostRadio PerformerRadio PersonalityRadio SportscasterRadio Talk Show HostRadio TV Announcer (Radio Television Announcer)ReporterShow HostShow HostessSports AnalystSports AnnouncerSports BroadcasterSports CommentatorSportscasterTalk Show HostTelevision Announcer (TV Announcer)Television Host (TV Host)Television Specialist (TV Specialist)TV Reporter (Television Reporter)Voice-Over AnnouncerWeather AnchorWeather Reporter
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $47,340.
