How much does a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey make?
The median broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey in the United States earns $47,340 per year, about $22.76 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 27-3011.
Broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey salary range
Pay for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $28,190 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $138,440. The average (mean) wage of $78,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,190 | $13.55 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $35,360 | $17.00 | |
| Median (50th) | $47,340 | $22.76 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $75,480 | $36.29 | |
| 90th percentile | $138,440 | $66.56 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (SOC 27-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn the most in New York at $81,310 a year, and the least in South Carolina at $30,960. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $81,310 | 1,460 |
| Maryland | $74,480 | 290 |
| New Jersey | $70,800 | 190 |
| Indiana | $61,760 | 1,040 |
| Nevada | $60,460 | 160 |
| Massachusetts | $60,200 | 280 |
| Florida | $56,360 | 990 |
| Rhode Island | $55,110 | 90 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,080 | 830 |
| Hawaii | $51,030 | 140 |
| Colorado | $50,660 | 310 |
| Texas | $49,050 | 960 |
| Tennessee | $48,290 | 970 |
| Arizona | $47,930 | 410 |
| North Carolina | $47,910 | 830 |
| Idaho | $46,940 | 50 |
| Illinois | $46,720 | 770 |
| Michigan | $46,640 | 650 |
| Oregon | $46,190 | 240 |
| Utah | $46,080 | 190 |
| New Hampshire | $46,000 | 70 |
| Missouri | $45,460 | 470 |
| Nebraska | $45,020 | 280 |
| Alaska | $44,790 | 80 |
| Washington | $44,420 | 620 |
| Virginia | $44,400 | 460 |
| Maine | $44,000 | 170 |
| Minnesota | $43,530 | 750 |
| Ohio | $42,440 | 910 |
| Georgia | $42,020 | 490 |
| South Dakota | $40,630 | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $40,630 | 580 |
| New Mexico | $38,940 | 190 |
| Alabama | $38,530 | 300 |
| North Dakota | $38,500 | 180 |
| Iowa | $37,090 | 320 |
| Wyoming | $36,760 | 50 |
| Kentucky | $36,170 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $36,160 | 300 |
| Oklahoma | $36,110 | 300 |
| West Virginia | $35,400 | 130 |
| Vermont | $35,220 | 110 |
| Kansas | $35,130 | 440 |
| Montana | $35,000 | 130 |
| Mississippi | $34,040 | 160 |
| Louisiana | $33,020 | 190 |
| South Carolina | $30,960 | 150 |
State median wages for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (SOC 27-3011), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
The BLS projects employment of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 7.6%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 21,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 20,200 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 2,000 openings a year for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey
The typical entry-level education for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys is a bachelor's degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey earns
Employer, market size, reputation, and whether the work is staff or freelance drive a wide pay spread. A small group of top earners pulls the high end of this field well up.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (New York, $81,310) and the lowest (South Carolina, $30,960) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 21,240 people work as broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in the United States. At $47,340 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey salary FAQ
How much does a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey is $22.76. The middle half of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn between $17.00 and $36.29 per hour.
What is the highest broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys earn more than $138,440 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey make a year?
The median annual salary for a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey is $47,340. The average (mean) wage of $78,720 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey a well paid job?
At $47,340 a year, a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 21,240 people work as broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys in the United States.
Which state pays broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys the most?
New York has the highest median salary for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys at $81,310 a year. Maryland ($74,480) and New Jersey ($70,800) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey a good career?
Employment of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys is projected to shrink 7.6% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 2,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a broadcast announcer and radio disc jockey?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys as a bachelor's degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
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