# Media Programming Directors

> Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-programming-directors
- SOC code: 27-2012.03
- Career family: Arts, design and media
- Median annual pay: $90,360 (10th percentile $45,780, 90th percentile $198,540)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.0%
- Openings a year: 12,100
- Typical entry education: Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Producers and directors".

## Interest profile (code ECA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 7 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 52 |
| Social (S) | 45 |
| Enterprising (E) | 93 |
| Conventional (C) | 61 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 95/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 90/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 89/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 84/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 84/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 81/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 78/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 78/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 78/100)

## Skills

Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Coordination, Time Management, Active Learning, Active Listening, Management of Personnel Resources, Monitoring

## Knowledge

Communications and Media, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Administration and Management, Telecommunications, Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing, Engineering and Technology, Administrative, Personnel and Human Resources

## Also called

Broadcast Content Manager, Broadcast Director, Broadcast Operations Director, Cable TV Program Director (Cable Television Program Director), Digital Media Director, Educational Programming Director, Entertainment Director, Media Coordinator, Media Director, Media Planning Director

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

- [Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5005) (CIP 5005, 1,130 colleges)
- [Film/Video and Photographic Arts](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5006) (CIP 5006, 676 colleges)
- [Radio, Television, and Digital Communication](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0907) (CIP 0907, 653 colleges)
- [Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5010) (CIP 5010, 351 colleges)

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

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [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 |
| [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 |
| [Fordham University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/fordham-university-990) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $57,292 | $84,366 | $27,000 |
| [Miami University-Oxford](https://www.collegesref.com/college/miami-university-oxford-1675) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $53,569 | $82,411 | $21,030 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $54,824 | $77,109 | $16,750 |
| [The New School](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-new-school-2749) | Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $49,196 | $74,936 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley CAL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $35,898 | $70,963 | $12,979 |
| [Syracuse University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/syracuse-university-2667) | Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $42,990 | $70,815 | $22,250 |

## Related careers

- [Media Technical Directors/Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-technical-directors-managers): $90,360 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Information Technology Project Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-technology-project-managers): $116,580 median pay
- [Public Relations Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-specialists): $74,750 median pay
- [Public Relations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/public-relations-managers): $146,910 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 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.