# Media Technical Directors/Managers

> Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-technical-directors-managers
- SOC code: 27-2012.05
- 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 ECR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 49 |
| Investigative (I) | 30 |
| Artistic (A) | 41 |
| Social (S) | 27 |
| Enterprising (E) | 70 |
| Conventional (C) | 58 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 93/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 89/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 81/100)
- Getting Information (importance 81/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment (importance 80/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 80/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 79/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 78/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 71/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Coordination, Monitoring, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management, Active Learning

## Knowledge

Communications and Media, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Telecommunications, Engineering and Technology, Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, Education and Training, Production and Processing, Geography

## Also called

Broadcast Director, News Director, News Technical Director, Newscast Director, Operations Director, Operations Manager, Production Director, Production Manager, Production Superintendent, Production Supervisor

## 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 Programming Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/media-programming-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Producers and Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/producers-and-directors): $90,360 median pay
- [Project Management Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/project-management-specialists): $102,320 median pay
- [Film and Video Editors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/film-and-video-editors): $75,420 median pay
- [Information Technology Project Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/information-technology-project-managers): $116,580 median pay
- [Art Directors](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/art-directors): $114,850 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.