# Broadcast Technicians

> Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/broadcast-technicians
- SOC code: 27-4012.00
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $59,570 (10th percentile $31,390, 90th percentile $123,670)
- Projected growth: Decline, -3.1%
- Openings a year: 1,600
- Typical entry education: Associate's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 63 |
| Investigative (I) | 33 |
| Artistic (A) | 30 |
| Social (S) | 19 |
| Enterprising (E) | 25 |
| Conventional (C) | 69 |

## What you'd do

- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 98/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (importance 95/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 94/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 92/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 91/100)
- Getting Information (importance 87/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 87/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 85/100)
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People (importance 84/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Operation and Control, Quality Control Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Computers and Electronics, Communications and Media, Telecommunications, Engineering and Technology, English Language, Education and Training, Administration and Management, Public Safety and Security, Law and Government, Design

## Also called

Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, AV Tech (Audio Visual Technician), Board Operator, Broadcast Engineer, Broadcast Maintenance Engineer, Broadcast Operations Engineer, Broadcast Operations Technician (Broadcast Ops Tech), Broadcast Systems Support Engineer, Control Operator

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

- [Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1002) (CIP 1002, 328 colleges)
- [Communications Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1001) (CIP 1001, 53 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Johns Hopkins University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/johns-hopkins-university-1344) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $62,858 | not reported |
| [Bowie State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bowie-state-university-288) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $44,461 | $56,818 | $20,654 |
| [Elon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/elon-university-906) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $53,185 | $22,250 |
| [Webster University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/webster-university-3187) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $35,468 | $50,359 | not reported |
| [Husson University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/husson-university-1255) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $35,885 | $48,777 | $27,000 |
| [CUNY York College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/cuny-york-college-749) | Communications Technologies/Technicians | $31,797 | $47,469 | not reported |
| [New England Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-england-institute-of-technology-1845) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $32,288 | $46,996 | not reported |
| [Rowan University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/rowan-university-2272) | Audiovisual Communications Technologies/Technicians | $28,529 | $46,969 | $15,000 |

## Related careers

- [Audio and Video Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/audio-and-video-technicians): $58,100 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-technologists-and-technicians): $78,190 median pay
- [Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electrical-and-electronics-repairers-commercial-and-industrial-equipment): $74,090 median pay
- [Robotics Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/robotics-technicians): $73,900 median pay
- [Power Distributors and Dispatchers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/power-distributors-and-dispatchers): $106,730 median pay
- [Calibration Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/calibration-technologists-and-technicians): $67,820 median pay

## 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.