Broadcasting careers are highly competitive particularly in larger cities
A career in broadcasting is perfect for outgoing, dynamic personalities. Unpredictable hours and long workdays are the hallmark of some broadcasting jobs. Despite this, the industry is competitive. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 73 percent of broadcast employees work in television and radio while the remaining are in cable broadcasting. The salaries of broadcasters tend to be higher than other private sector jobs.
Broadcaster Salaries
Broadcasters have an earning potential starting at $29,930 for a radio disc jockey to over $125,000 for a sports anchor, according to PayScale.com. Radio pays less than television. The U.S. Bureau of Labor reports a $12.76 median hourly wage for radio announcers in 2008. They report that reporters and correspondents in the same time frame as having a median hourly wage of $18.18. PayScale.com estimates that in 2011, news anchors can make up to $53,115. These are averages over many areas so, depending on the city, a broadcaster can potentially make more. Smaller markets often pay less.
The Top Payers
As a broadcaster, who you work for plays a large part in your earning potential. NBC Universal, Inc shows the highest average income for broadcasters at $85,497. The Walt Disney Company offers the next highest average income at $74,638, according to PayScale. The Walt Disney Company owns the ABC Network. Fox News and ESPN are also top paying employers. Cable companies like the DISH Network and Turner Broadcasting are also employers of broadcasters. The average salary of a broadcaster at Turner is $59,933.
Top Paying Cities
New York and Los Angeles are the top cities for broadcasters in regards to salaries, reports PayScale.com. The median salary for a television broadcaster in New York is $68,469. The median salary for a radio broadcaster in New York is slightly lower at $46,590. Washington, DC is also a top city for pay. A radio broadcaster in Washington makes on average $49,829 and a television broadcaster potentially earns $62,198. While large cities offer higher paying broadcast jobs, smaller cities offer a stepping stone to those just starting in broadcasting. Recent college graduates or those just starting out may want to try markets in small to mid-size cities in order to gain experience and have a better chance of succeeding in larger cities.
Job Outlook
Changes in technology and increased use of MP3 players and satellite radio may cause a decline in radio broadcasting employment. This is according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics who reports an increase of 7 percent for broadcasting employment, during the 2008 to 2018 time span. This increase is less than other industries. Technology advances play the biggest role in the decline. Stations are being combined eliminating the need for smaller stations and thus stunting job growth. Competition for broadcasting jobs will increase as the industry becomes more streamlined.
Tags: Bureau Labor, according PayScale, average income, broadcaster potentially, broadcaster York, broadcasting employment
