Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 27-3011 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$47,341
$22.76/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys is $47,341 per year ($22.76/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $35,360 and $75,483 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $138,445 per year. There are approximately 21,240 broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
-5.5%
Much slower than average
Annual openings
2K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
24K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
0% from new growth100% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations
NAICS 516100
13K
$44,300
Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers
NAICS 516200
4K
N/A
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
1K
$64,160
Spectator Sports
NAICS 711200
770
$73,720
Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers
NAICS 711500
470
$122,200
Wage range across top 5 industries: $44,300 to $122,200 (176% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$13.55
$28,184
P25
$17.00
$35,360
P50MEDIAN
$22.76
$47,341
P75
$36.29
$75,483
P90
$66.56
$138,445
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · professional sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
4.2%
Quits Rate
2.0%
Professional & Business Services openings tumbled 318K in March -- the largest single-sector drop in this release. Openings rate fell from 5.5% to 4.2%. Layoffs jumped to 527K (+99K). White-collar demand has cooled abruptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys salary?
The national median salary for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys is $47,341 per year ($22.76/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $35,360 and $75,483 annually.
How much do top-earning broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys make?
The 90th percentile salary for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys is $138,445 per year ($66.56/hr). The 75th percentile is $75,483 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys?
Entry-level Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (10th percentile) earn approximately $28,184 per year ($13.55/hr). The 25th percentile is $35,360 per year.
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.
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