# Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-announcers-and-radio-disc-jockeys
- SOC code: 27-3011.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $47,340 (10th percentile $28,190, 90th percentile $138,440)
- Projected growth: Decline, -7.6%
- Openings a year: 2,000
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code AES)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 11 |
| Investigative (I) | 17 |
| Artistic (A) | 78 |
| Social (S) | 42 |
| Enterprising (E) | 56 |
| Conventional (C) | 35 |

## What you'd do

- Thinking Creatively (importance 92/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 85/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 80/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 76/100)
- Processing Information (importance 73/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Social Perceptiveness, Time Management, Active Learning, Writing, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination

## Knowledge

Communications and Media, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Telecommunications, Law and Government, Public Safety and Security, Sales and Marketing, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Customer and Personal Service

## Also called

Anchor, Announcer, Board Operator, Broadcaster, Commercial Announcer, DJ (Disc Jockey), Entertainer, Game Show Host, Host, Hostess

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Communication and Media Studies](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0901) (CIP 0901, 1,386 colleges)
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0907) (CIP 0907, 653 colleges)
- [Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0909) (CIP 0909, 621 colleges)
- [Journalism](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0904) (CIP 0904, 544 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Pennsylvania UPENN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Communication and Media Studies | $65,287 | $114,266 | not reported |
| [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA Tech](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus-ga-tech-1072) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | not reported | $99,915 | $20,437 |
| [Northwestern University-Illinois](https://www.collegesref.com/college/northwestern-university-illinois-1966) | Communication and Media Studies | $64,034 | $93,541 | $19,500 |
| [Rochester Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rochester-institute-of-technology-2250) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $65,196 | $91,222 | $25,500 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,858 | $90,535 | $24,250 |
| [Southern Methodist University SMU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/southern-methodist-university-smu-2498) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $56,398 | $89,330 | $17,375 |
| [Cornell University-New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cornell-university-new-york-710) | Communication and Media Studies | $63,499 | $88,463 | $10,000 |
| [University of Southern California USC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-southern-california-usc-3050) | Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | $63,165 | $87,946 | $12,125 |

## Related careers

- [News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/news-analysts-reporters-and-journalists): $62,200 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Media Programming Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-programming-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Media Technical Directors/Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-technical-directors-managers): $90,360 median pay
- [Film and Video Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/film-and-video-editors): $75,420 median pay
- [Disc Jockeys, Except Radio](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/disc-jockeys-except-radio)

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.