Broadcast Technician Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

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

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$59,570
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$28.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$123,670
entry level starts ~$31,390
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 21,000 employed

How much does a Broadcast Technician make?

The median pay for a Broadcast Technician in the United States is $59,570 per year — about $28.64 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $31,390, while the most experienced Broadcast Technicians in the top 10% earn $123,670.

That is $1,820 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Broadcast Technician salary range by percentile

Half of all Broadcast Technicians earn between $40,320 and $83,520 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$31,390$15.09
25th percentile (early career)$40,320$19.38
50th percentile (median)$59,570$28.64
75th percentile (experienced)$83,520$40.15
90th percentile (top earners)$123,670$59.46

Highest-paying states for Broadcast Technician

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Broadcast Technician pay at $108,270 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($81,150) and Pennsylvania ($80,470). At the other end, West Virginia posts the lowest median at $27,310 — a gap of $80,960 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1District of Columbia$108,270$52.05+82%
2New Hampshire$81,150$39.01+36%
3Pennsylvania$80,470$38.69+35%
4New York$78,840$37.90+32%
5Illinois$74,210$35.68+25%

Workforce and education

About 21,000 people work as Broadcast Technicians in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $67,960 — 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 does a Broadcast Technician make in the United States?
The median Broadcast Technician salary in the United States is $59,570 per year, or about $28.64 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $31,390, while the top 10% of earners make $123,670 or more.
How does Broadcast Technician pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Broadcast Technician median of $59,570 is below the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Broadcast Technicians the most?
District of Columbia is the highest-paying state for Broadcast Technicians, with a median salary of $108,270 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Broadcast Technician?
Becoming a Broadcast Technician typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Broadcast Technicians work in the United States?
About 21,000 people were employed as Broadcast Technicians 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.