Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$47,340
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$22.76
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$138,440
entry level starts ~$28,190
Pay Grade
C+
modest pay · 21,000 employed

How much do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys make?

The median pay for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys in the United States is $47,340 per year — about $22.76 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $28,190, while the most experienced professionals in the top 10% earn $138,440.

That is $14,050 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary range by percentile

Half of all Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys earn between $35,360 and $75,480 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$28,190$13.55
25th percentile (early career)$35,360$17.00
50th percentile (median)$47,340$22.76
75th percentile (experienced)$75,480$36.29
90th percentile (top earners)$138,440$66.56

Highest-paying states for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. New York leads the country for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys pay at $81,310 a year, followed by Maryland ($74,480) and New Jersey ($70,800). At the other end, South Carolina posts the lowest median at $30,960 — a gap of $50,350 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1New York$81,310$39.09+72%
2Maryland$74,480$35.81+57%
3New Jersey$70,800$34.04+50%
4Indiana$61,760$29.69+30%
5Nevada$60,460$29.07+28%

Workforce and education

About 21,000 people work as Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $78,720 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys make in the United States?
The median Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary in the United States is $47,340 per year, or about $22.76 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $28,190, while the top 10% of earners make $138,440 or more.
How does Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of C+ (modest pay), the Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys median of $47,340 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys the most?
New York is the highest-paying state for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys, with a median salary of $81,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
What education do Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys need?
For most positions, a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, according to O*NET occupation data from the U.S. Department of Labor.
How many Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys work in the United States?
About 21,000 people were employed as Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.