Many people dream of working in the broadcasting field, where they can use their creativity to pursue rewarding careers. When most people think of broadcasting, they think of news anchors. However, other positions in broadcasting include content strategist, news producer, videographer, technical writer, or public relations specialist.

Aspiring broadcasters can find many high-paying career options in the field. With the recent rise of social media, opportunities in broadcasting are growing. Most broadcasting salaries exceed the national average salary of $56,310. This article provides information on the best-paying jobs in broadcasting, including education requirements for these positions.

What Do Broadcasting Jobs Pay?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual wage for media and communication workers was $62,340 in May 2021. Broadcasting is a vast field that offers many creative, technical, and management positions. Broadcasting salaries vary according to the type of job and an employee’s experience and education.

Broadcasting Job Outlook

Broadcasting is a promising field with an expected job growth of 14 percent by 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Furthermore, BLS projects 151,500 new jobs. The increasing need to create digital content for various channels is one of the reasons why broadcasting careers are growing so fast.

Broadcasting Job Satisfaction

Broadcasting jobs offer a variety of benefits including required travel, diverse job tasks, and interesting assignments. However, broadcasting is a fast-paced work environment with strict deadlines. Therefore, some people may struggle with work-life balance. Depending on the job, work hours and schedule can be unpredictable.

Broadcasting Salaries: Lucrative Broadcasting Careers

Broadcasting Careers	Broadcasting Salaries	Job Outlook	Minimum Education
Broadcast Producer	$79,000	24%	Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Cinema Studies, or Communications Technology
News Director	$79,000	24%	Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Cinema Studies, or Communications Technology
Program Director	$79,000	24%	Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Cinema Studies, or Communications Technology
Technical Writer	$78,060	12%	Bachelor’s Degree in English, Journalism or technical subject you’ll write about
Content Strategist	$63,207	N/A	Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing, Journalism, or Media Studies
Public Relation Specialist	$62,800	11%	Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations or Communications
Video Editor	$62,680	29%	Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Broadcasting, or Communications
Camera Operator	$60,360	29%	Bachelor’s Degree in Film, Broadcasting, or Communications
Social Media Manager	$50,088	N/A	Bachelor’s Degree in Communications
Sound Technician	$49,050	21%	Associate Degree in Sound Technology or Audio Engineering

Best-Paying Jobs in  Broadcasting: In Detail

1. Broadcast Producer

Average Salary: $79,000

Broadcast producers are responsible for the entire production of a TV program or show on any media outlet. This includes designing show schedules, planning broadcasts of live episodes, selecting shoot locations, and managing advertisements that run during the show.

2. News Director

Average Salary: $79,000

As a news director, you would be responsible for the overall operation of news segments for TV, radio, or other media outlets. This would include choosing the theme, news stories, camera angles, and staff for a news program, as well as managing a team of journalists and production crew. Therefore, to become a news director, you need both journalism and management skills.

3. Program Director

Average Salary: $79,000

Program directors are responsible for supervising programming for a radio station or TV network. They make decisions about the type of programs the network will offer to its audience from season to season. They also make major decisions about budget and staffing. To get a program director role, you’ll need management skills and experience with creating radio or TV programs.

4. Technical Writer

Average Salary: $78,060

A technical writer working in broadcasting or media writes technical content for their company. The technical subject matter can vary, but technical writers should use simple language to make complex concepts understandable to a wide audience. Technical writers can work as technology reporters, political correspondents, or science writers.

5. Content Strategist

Average Salary: $63,207

Content Strategists oversee the content strategy of a media organization or brand by working with content teams to make sure that the content promotes the company’s vision and mission. The Content Strategist role requires experience writing and editing compelling stories, and a bachelor’s degree in creative writing, journalism, or communications is preferred.

6. Public Relations Specialist

Average Salary: $62,800

As a public relations specialist, you will develop media campaigns and strategies to promote a company. In order to be successful in this role, you will need excellent communication and networking skills. Many broadcasting companies and media outlets have an in-house team of public relations specialists that help them build a positive brand image.

7. Video Editor

Average Salary: $62,680

Aspiring video editors can take video editing courses to develop the skills needed to create, edit, and manipulate video content for different channels. Because of the growing social media influencer market and entertainment industry, there is high demand for video editors who know how to use video editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.

8. Camera Operator

Average Salary: $60,360

Camera operators are responsible for filming video footage used in films, TV shows, or newsrooms. They collaborate with a director of photography to establish a plan before starting to film. To become a camera operator, you need to learn how to operate technical video-making equipment.

9. Social Media Manager

Average Salary: $50,088

If you want to get paid for using social media platforms you should consider working as a social media manager. In this role, you will be responsible for creating and posting social media posts for all platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Additionally, you will be in charge of designing social media campaigns and advertisements to build brand awareness.

10. Sound Technician

Average Salary: $49,050

Asound technician typically works in the audio department of a broadcasting company, where they use recording equipment to record, manipulate, and reproduce sound for different content formats. An associate degree in sound technology or audio engineering is typically all that is required for this position, as opposed to a four-year college degree.

11. Chief Executive Officer

As the chief executive officer, you would be responsible for the success of the corporation or organization as a whole. This would involve establishing goals, policies and strategies for the company to succeed and profit. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average wage for all chief executives was $197,840 in May 2020 (www.bls.gov). A large number of chief executives worked in the company and enterprise management industry, which offered a higher average salary of $248,610.

12. Sales Managers

The responsibilities of a sales manager include directing services and products to a customer base, as well as analyzing sales quotas, figures and goals in order to gain more customers. According to the BLS, the average wage for sales managers was $147,580 in May 2020. Many sales managers work in the management of companies and enterprises industry, where they earn an average wage of $161,050.

13. Atmospheric and Space Scientists (Weathermen)

Many atmospheric and space scientists present the weather in a news style format to inform the public. According to the BLS, these professionals earned an average wage of $100,550 in May 2020, with most earning between $52,350 and $153,150. Those working in radio and television broadcasting earned an average wage of $98,250.

14. Advertising and Promotions Managers

As an advertising and promotions manager, you will sell advertising time spots to sponsors, advertising agencies and buyers. You will play a crucial role in generating revenue for your company. According to May 2020 salary data from the BLS, the average annual salary for this position is $147,560. The newspaper, periodical, book and directory publishing industry offers an average salary of $127,650, while the advertising, public relations and related services industry offers a much higher average wage of $164,880.

15. Producers and Directors

As a producer, you will be responsible for the overall quality of the show that will be broadcast. You will work with other broadcasting personnel, such as writers, on-air hosts and production staff to ensure the show is staying within budget and on schedule. As a director, you will lead a cast and technical crew in order to get a film, TV show or radio program completed and presented to an audience. You will also interpret scripts and be in charge of rehearsals.

According to the BLS, the average salary for producers and directors was $96,690 in May 2020. Those in the radio and television broadcasting industry earned $80,390 on average, while those working in the motion picture and video industries were paid a much higher average wage of $113,860. Those working in advertising, public relations and related services earned an average wage of $115,200.

16. Copywriters

Copywriters create advertising copy to promote products, services, and sales of goods for broadcasting media. According to PayScale.com, copywriters earned a median wage of $53,018 in April 2021, with most salaries falling between $38,000 and $76,000. In May 2020, the BLS reported that writers and authors earned an average salary of $78,680. Independent artists, writers, and performers earned a higher average wage of $107,110.

17. Talk Show Host

Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, the talk show became a staple in American news and entertainment. The talk show host is the face of the program, finding unique and interesting ways to interact with guests and report stories. These personalities typically interview different guests from politics, sports, or entertainment while in front of a live studio audience, asking them interesting questions and telling stories.

If the show is entertainment based, the Host also participates in games with the audience and leads the show through various sketches or segments. A Talk Show Host might present a program daily, weekly, or periodically, while the show itself typically airs during the day or late at night.

18. Weather Reporter

A weather reporter, or meteorologist, is responsible for providing updates and analysis of current and forecasted weather conditions through a television, radio station, or social media platform. In this role, your job duties include developing short-term weather forecasts, analyzing atmospheric conditions that impact climate patterns, and communicating this data to an audience. You can find weather reporter positions with local television stations as well as nationally syndicated news outlets.

19. Weather Anchor

Salary range: $31,000-$67,500 per year

Most Weather Anchor salaries in the United States fall between $31,000 (25th percentile) and $67,500 (75th percentile) annually. There is potential for significant earning potential depending on skill level, location and years of experience. The current job market for Weather Anchors in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.

20. News Anchor

The news anchor presents the news on a television or media broadcast. They usually appear on a local news channel and report on local stories, or work on a regional or national TV broadcast. Most anchors are journalists who have experience in news media. Many cover a specialized “beat,” or subject, before being promoted to an anchor position. As an anchor, you need to be comfortable reporting on every topic covered during the news broadcast.

21. Correspondent

The majority of Correspondent salaries across the United States currently range between $38,500 (25th percentile) and $62,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. The Correspondent job market in the United States is active, with some companies hiring.

22. Education Reporter

Salary range: $31,500-$59,000 per year

As an education reporter, you would be responsible for writing about or reporting on issues surrounding schools within your state, region, or school district. This would include working to cover educational stories and issues for a newspaper, radio, or television news company, as well as working with news outlets on the web.

Education reporters typically focus on K-12 education, though they may also cover higher education, depending on their employer. The responsibilities of an education reporter usually require them to focus on K-12 education, though they may also cover higher education.

23. Television News Reporter

Salary range: $35,000-$58,000 per year

As a television news reporter, your duties include working to gather information for your reports, interviewing people, writing scripts or notes, and shooting and editing footage in the field that the producers may use during newscasts. Depending on your role, you may produce stories with input from a team of camera operators and journalists. Television news reporters appear on camera during the news broadcast and often interact with anchors and other members of the news studio team.

24. Investigative Reporter

An investigative reporter conducts interviews or research to help build their story. This type of journalism often focuses on one topic at a time and may require travel and irregular hours. In this career, you investigate multiple elements of a story and find various source options to obtain information. You might specialize in a niche, such as crime, politics, or even doing consumer research to see if products meet people’s expectations. Some reporters take photos to accompany their stories. You need basic computer skills to type up and format your story for publishing.

25. Morning News Anchor

The duties of a morning news anchor typically involve sitting at a desk and providing news coverage during a broadcast. The anchor may report prescheduled news segments or provide information about breaking stories when necessary. anchors typically arrive very early at the news studio to prepare for the broadcast.

As a senior member of the newsroom, your responsibilities include introducing stories and reports from other members of the on-air team. Before and during broadcasts, you work with producers, directors, and news writers.

26. Anchor Reporter

Salary range: $31,500-$49,500 per year

The salaries of Anchor Reporters across the United States currently range from $31,500 to $49,500 annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests that pay in this role will be consistent, regardless of skill level, location, and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Anchor Reporter job market in the United States is active, with a few companies hiring.

27. Morning Show Host

The majority of Morning Show Host salaries across the United States currently range between $31,000 and $48,500 annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience. Although some advancement is possible, based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Morning Show Host job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You may have better luck exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.

28. Anchor

Salary range: $27,000-$45,000 per year

As an anchor, you are responsible for introducing and transitioning between segments on the show, as well as interviewing guests and reviewing scripts. Some programs are pre-recorded, but it is more common for anchors to present to a live television audience.

The best anchors are skilled at ad-libbing under tight deadlines; this is a valuable talent when there are breaking news events that are broadcast with little information available.

29. Weekend Anchor

Salary range: $27,000-$43,000 per year

As a weekend anchor, your responsibilities include generating unique content, finding innovative ways to tell stories, collaborating with a team of newscasters and researchers, using social media to engage the audience, and cultivating sources for shows.

Your duties may also include writing for websites, making judgments on story presentation, responding to the community, building a following, and developing mobile content. You may fill in for other newscaster positions as needed and post content throughout the week.

30. On Air Talent

As an on-air talent, you are responsible for representing the desired voice or personality of your television or radio station in a way that engages your audience. This may involve conducting interviews, reporting news, hosting a talk show, portraying a character, or promoting products or events. You are the face or voice of your station or program.

31. Sports Anchor

Salary range: $28,000-$39,500 per year

As a sports anchor, you are responsible for presenting sports-related news and information on television news programs or sports-related channels. You are the face of the program and typically deliver the reports from behind a desk in a studio. It is important to be knowledgeable about many different sports; while some programs focus on one sport at a time, sports anchors may host several different programs on various sports.

Depending on the size of the station or the popularity of the program, sports anchors may write their own script, or they may read text written by producers. Sports anchors often interview players, coaches, or other influential sports figures as part of the show in order to provide viewers with important information and insights.

32. News Reporter

A news reporter is a journalist who delivers the news via TV broadcast, radio, digital media or print. As a news reporter, your duties can vary significantly based on the medium in which you work. However, many of your core responsibilities remain the same. These include working with a team of other news professionals to research current events, organizing your data into an accurate report of the events, and delivering said report in an engaging and understandable manner.

In either case, speed and accuracy are paramount.

If you work in a written medium, your goal is to produce a readable article. If you and your team are researching breaking news, your goal is to get the facts out as soon as possible. In either case, it is important to be accurate and quick.