TV and Radio Broadcast Operator Training and Jobs
Schools and Degrees
Broadcast operators should get training from a community or training college, or a technical school that offers special courses in electronics, engineering and broadcast technology. An associates degree can be of great help in securing a job as a broadcast operator. Courses in electronics, physics and mathematics at the high school level can also come in handy.
Training and Education
Employees often obtain an associate degree before starting. The percentage of TV and radio broadcast operators with college degrees is 35%. Workers with some college (less than a bachelor's degree) represent about 44% of the total. Some employees, about 21%, had a high-school education.
Job Overview
Broadcast Operators set up, control and maintain the different electronic and electrical equipment that are used in television and radio broadcasts and musical recordings or concerts.
Job Requirements
It is not necessary for broadcast operators to have professional licenses. However, certification by the Society of Broadcast Engineers testifies to the amount of expertise and competency a broadcast operator has. To obtain this certification, broadcast operators need to pass an exam and have proof of prior experience.
It is important for broadcast operators to learn the job from those experienced in the profession. Those starting out in this profession often begin work at small stations and then move on to large ones. Broadcast operators need to attend courses and seminars to keep up with the latest technology and trends. These seminars are often sponsored by the employers.
Proficiency with electronic equipment is needed to be in this profession. Experience of working in a college radio or television station is also useful. In addition, one needs to have knowledge in digital recording, broadcasting and editing in order to make it as a successful broadcast operator. Manual skills (dexterity?) and a capacity to work with electrical and electronic equipments are also necessary.
Nature of Work
Broadcast Operators maintain and set up broadcasting equipment and control technical elements like volume, brightness, contrast and sound quality of all the broadcasts. Broadcasting operators also regulate the panels, which choose the origin of the material to be broadcast. They may change from one studio or camera to another, or from a live programming to a recorded one. They also choose between broadcasting a local program and showing a program from the network. This doesn’t seem right – seems like a decision made by someone else. In small broadcasting stations, broadcast operators look after many other activities. Their jobs in big stations may become a little more focused. Also, in large stations their work assignments alter from day to day.
Broadcast operators usually work indoors in comfortable surroundings. At big stations, broadcast operators usually work for about forty hours a week. Many times they have to work overtime to meet deadlines. Since broadcasting activity is usually on for twenty-four hours a day, working on evenings and holidays is quite common. Broadcast operators also have on-call job duties at times.
Area Job Conditions
Popular locations for TV and radio broadcast operators include Tallahassee (Florida), Missoula (Montana), and Little Rock (Arkansas). Fewer are found in Providence (Rhode Island), Oakland (California), and Newark (New Jersey).
Workers looking for high salaries should look at Oakland (California), Trenton (New Jersey), and Lansing (Michigan), and should avoid Brownsville (Texas), Lubbock (Texas), and Joplin (Missouri).
Part-Time and Self Employment
Part-time TV and radio broadcast operators are 13% of all surveyed. Some workers, about 12%, work for themselves.
Career Videos
TV and Radio Broadcast Operators by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Alabama
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $36,000 | 120 | +15% |
| Mobile | $41,000 | 30 | -17% |
| Montgomery | $33,000 | 60 | +81% |
Alaska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $37,000 | 110 | +223% |
Arizona
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $37,000 | 250 | -33% |
| Tucson | $33,000 | 80 | +12% |
Arkansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $31,000 | 200 | +176% |
California
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $45,000 | 150 | +125% |
| Los Angeles | $50,000 | 2,360 | +173% |
| Oakland | $51,000 | 70 | -67% |
| Riverside | $34,000 | 110 | -57% |
| Sacramento | $44,000 | 320 | +74% |
| Salinas | 60 | +84% | |
| San Diego | $40,000 | 290 | +4% |
| San Francisco | $51,000 | 370 | +75% |
| Santa Ana | $35,000 | 170 | -45% |
Colorado
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $37,000 | 70 | +34% |
| Denver | $46,000 | 400 | +50% |
Connecticut
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport | $37,000 | 60 | -33% |
| Hartford | $30,000 | 370 | +204% |
| New Haven | $35,000 | 30 | -47% |
Delaware
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $47,000 | 40 | -41% |
District of Columbia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,000 | 840 | +62% |
Florida
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral | $29,000 | 90 | +127% |
| Fort Lauderdale | $28,000 | 160 | +8% |
| Gainesville | $32,000 | 40 | +65% |
| Jacksonville | $26,000 | 160 | +26% |
| Miami | $34,000 | 550 | +164% |
| Orlando | $40,000 | 240 | +11% |
| Pensacola | $41,000 | 30 | 0% |
| Tallahassee | $29,000 | 100 | +205% |
| Tampa | $35,000 | 300 | +23% |
| West Palm Beach | $31,000 | 130 | +19% |
Georgia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $24,000 | 40 | +242% |
| Atlanta | $35,000 | 570 | +16% |
| Augusta | 30 | -29% | |
| Columbus | $26,000 | 30 | +37% |
| Macon | $25,000 | 50 | +182% |
Hawaii
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | $31,000 | 90 | -3% |
Illinois
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $41,000 | 50 | +147% |
| Chicago | $47,000 | 810 | +1% |
| Peoria | $34,000 | 90 | +159% |
Indiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $38,000 | 70 | +100% |
| Fort Wayne | $29,000 | 90 | +114% |
| Gary | $27,000 | 50 | -11% |
| Indianapolis | $33,000 | 240 | +26% |
| South Bend | $29,000 | 50 | +93% |
Iowa
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | $35,000 | 70 | +149% |
| Davenport | $45,000 | 40 | +5% |
| Des Moines | $42,000 | 100 | +45% |
Kansas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $29,000 | 30 | -50% |
Kentucky
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green | $49,000 | 40 | +283% |
| Lexington | $36,000 | 100 | +101% |
| Louisville | $40,000 | 110 | -15% |
Louisiana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $24,000 | 40 | +38% |
| New Orleans | $36,000 | 70 | -37% |
Maine
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $37,000 | 70 | +70% |
Maryland
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | $48,000 | 370 | +32% |
| Bethesda | $48,000 | 130 | +6% |
Massachusetts
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $50,000 | 400 | +8% |
| Springfield | $31,000 | 50 | -20% |
Michigan
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $35,000 | 30 | -12% |
| Detroit | $29,000 | 50 | -65% |
| Grand Rapids | $31,000 | 100 | +26% |
| Lansing | $46,000 | 80 | +96% |
| Warren | $37,000 | 200 | -13% |
Minnesota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth | $39,000 | 80 | +206% |
| Minneapolis | $43,000 | 390 | +3% |
Mississippi
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | $27,000 | 50 | -5% |
Missouri
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City | $28,000 | 60 | +320% |
| Joplin | $24,000 | 40 | +161% |
| Kansas City | $38,000 | 250 | +16% |
| Springfield | $28,000 | 60 | +53% |
| St Louis | $31,000 | 230 | -19% |
Montana
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | $41,000 | 50 | +205% |
Nebraska
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | $41,000 | 160 | +61% |
Nevada
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas | $31,000 | 160 | -11% |
| Reno | $29,000 | 70 | +78% |
New Jersey
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edison | $39,000 | 60 | -73% |
| Newark | $36,000 | 40 | -81% |
| Trenton | $60,000 | 30 | -36% |
New Mexico
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $27,000 | 150 | +85% |
New York
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | $38,000 | 100 | +5% |
| Buffalo | $45,000 | 100 | -15% |
| Nassau | $47,000 | 480 | +78% |
| New York | $47,000 | 3,000 | +170% |
| Rochester | $33,000 | 110 | +3% |
| Syracuse | $29,000 | 60 | -8% |
North Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | $42,000 | 170 | -7% |
| Greensboro | $30,000 | 80 | +7% |
| Raleigh | $28,000 | 170 | +55% |
North Dakota
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $45,000 | 60 | +145% |
Ohio
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $40,000 | 200 | -7% |
| Cleveland | $34,000 | 200 | -8% |
| Columbus | $39,000 | 190 | -3% |
| Dayton | $42,000 | 80 | -1% |
Oklahoma
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | $29,000 | 230 | +88% |
| Tulsa | $32,000 | 70 | -23% |
Oregon
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene | 40 | +41% | |
| Portland | $45,000 | 160 | -27% |
Pennsylvania
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | $37,000 | 40 | -40% |
| Philadelphia | $40,000 | 290 | -29% |
| Pittsburgh | $34,000 | 130 | -47% |
| Scranton | $35,000 | 60 | +10% |
| York | $25,000 | 50 | +38% |
Rhode Island
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | $39,000 | 70 | -41% |
South Carolina
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $31,000 | 70 | +16% |
| Columbia | $32,000 | 90 | +22% |
Tennessee
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $30,000 | 50 | +6% |
| Knoxville | $33,000 | 90 | +29% |
| Memphis | $28,000 | 100 | -24% |
| Nashville | $37,000 | 200 | +27% |
Texas
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | $37,000 | 40 | +89% |
| Austin | $42,000 | 150 | -10% |
| Beaumont | $25,000 | 50 | +52% |
| Brownsville | $38,000 | 40 | +52% |
| Corpus Christi | $40,000 | 60 | +64% |
| Dallas | $47,000 | 220 | -51% |
| El Paso | $30,000 | 50 | -12% |
| Fort Worth | $45,000 | 290 | +58% |
| Houston | $45,000 | 200 | -64% |
| Odessa | $25,000 | 40 | +275% |
| San Antonio | $40,000 | 170 | -9% |
| Tyler | $32,000 | 50 | +182% |
Utah
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | $31,000 | 270 | +109% |
Vermont
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | $38,000 | 40 | +80% |
Virginia
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $32,000 | 120 | -8% |
Washington
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $39,000 | 260 | -13% |
| Spokane | $38,000 | 90 | +113% |
Wisconsin
| City and Area | Median Salary | Employees | Job Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay | $32,000 | 70 | +104% |
| Madison | $40,000 | 60 | -16% |
| Milwaukee | $40,000 | 140 | -21% |