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Disc Jockeys, Except Radio Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks

SOC 27-2091 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data

Median Annual Salary
$44,949
$21.61/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026

Is this a competitive Disc Jockeys salary in 2026?

Based on BLS OEWS wage percentiles, JOLTS June 2026 demand signals, and ECI Q2 2026 wage growth.

$Competitive · ~P50
P10$28K
P25$35K
P50$45K
P75$78K
P90$125K
Drag the dot or type an amount above.
🔥
Demand: HOT. Demand is hot -- professional & business services job openings are running at 5.5% (JOLTS, June 2026), a tight market. Candidates have leverage, so a competitive offer sits at or above the median; below-median offers often will not close.
📈
Merit budget: Wages in professional services are rising about 2.5% a year (BLS ECI, Q2 2026). Budget a 2.1-2.6% merit increase to hold this role at market.
Our read
For a competitive 2026 offer, target $44,949 to $78,000 (market median to the 75th percentile). Lean toward the top of the range for senior or hard-to-fill roles.
Figures are market benchmarks from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; apply professional judgment before making pay decisions.

How Disc Jockeys pay is moving in 2026

Trend, demand, and spread context from BLS OEWS, JOLTS, and ECI

Pay trend

Median pay for this role rose 5.0% between the May 2024 and May 2025 BLS surveys, outpacing the 2.5% wage growth of Professional & Business Services (BLS ECI).

Hiring demand · HOT

Professional & Business Services is running a 5.5% job-openings rate with quits at 2.2% (BLS JOLTS). Demand has cooled for 2 straight months (6.2% down to 5.5%).

Pay spread

Top earners (P90) make about 4.5 times what entry-level (P10) workers make in this role. That spread is wider than typical, so expect large pay differences by experience, employer size, and geography; build generous ranges and differentiate strongly.

What changed recently
  • Aug 4, 2026JOLTS June 2026: sector openings eased to 5.5% (down 0.3pp), still the highest of any major sector. Quits held at 2.2%.
  • Jul 31, 2026ECI Q2 2026: sector wages growing 2.5% per year. Nationally, wages rose 3.2% while CPI hit 3.5%, so real wages turned negative.

Commentary is generated from published BLS figures (OEWS May 2025 vs May 2024, JOLTS June 2026, ECI Q2 2026) and refreshed each release. It is interpretation, not a BLS product.

Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Disc Jockeys, Except Radio is $44,949 per year ($21.61/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $35,173 and $78,000 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $125,154 per year. There are approximately 7,920 disc jockeys, except radio employed in the United States.

About This Role

BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018

Play prerecorded music for live audiences at venues or events such as clubs, parties, or wedding receptions. May use techniques such as mixing, cutting, or sampling to manipulate recordings. May also perform as emcee (master of ceremonies). Radio disc jockeys are included in “Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys” (27-3011).

Career Outlook

BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+3.8%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
2K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
15K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
4% from new growth96% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training

Industry Wage Breakdown

Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
IndustryWorkforce Median Pay
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
NAICS 711500
3KN/A
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
NAICS 722400
2KN/A
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
NAICS 713900
610N/A
Performing Arts Companies
NAICS 711100
320N/A
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations
NAICS 516100
150N/A

Wage Percentiles

Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
PercentileHourly RateAnnual Salary
P10$13.50$28,080
P25$16.91$35,173
P50MEDIAN$21.61$44,949
P75$37.50$78,000
P90$60.17$125,154

Market Context Signal

JOLTS · professional sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.5%
Quits Rate
2.2%

Professional & Business Services openings eased to 1.30M in June (-71K), rate 5.5% -- still the highest of any major sector. Quits held at 2.2%. White-collar demand is cooling at the edges but remains the tightest market.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average disc jockeys, except radio salary?

The national median salary for Disc Jockeys, Except Radio is $44,949 per year ($21.61/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $35,173 and $78,000 annually.

How much do top-earning disc jockeys, except radio make?

The 90th percentile salary for Disc Jockeys, Except Radio is $125,154 per year ($60.17/hr). The 75th percentile is $78,000 per year.

What is the entry-level salary for disc jockeys, except radio?

Entry-level Disc Jockeys, Except Radio (10th percentile) earn approximately $28,080 per year ($13.50/hr). The 25th percentile is $35,173 per year.

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Disc Jockeys, Except Radio Salary by State

Top 5 states by employment
Texas820 workersNew York450 workersMissouri360 workersWisconsin360 workersGeorgia140 workers

About This Data

Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.

P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.

Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.

Next OEWS release: May 2027Verify on BLS.gov →

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