Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Also called: Anchor, Announcer, Board Operator, Broadcaster, Commercial Announcer, DJ (Disc Jockey), Entertainer, Game Show Host
Speak or read from scripted materials, such as news reports or commercial messages, on radio, television, or other communications media.
What broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys do
Typical tasks
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Operate control consoles.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
- Develop story lines for broadcasts.
- Select program content, in conjunction with producers and assistants, based on factors such as program specialties, audience tastes, or requests from the public.
- Write and edit video and scripts for broadcasts.
- Interview show guests about their lives, their work, or topics of current interest.
Typical path into the job (BLS)
Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys salary
The median annual wage for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys is $47,340 (BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025–35, national). The lowest 10 percent earn less than $28,190 and the highest 10 percent earn more than $138,440. The mean annual wage is $78,720.
The mean hourly wage of $37.00 is 5.1× the federal minimum wage of $7.25. State minimums are higher in most large states. Minimum wage by state →
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The comparison uses this occupation's BLS wage percentiles, adjusted for age with BLS median weekly earnings by age group (Q3 2026).
Pay by percentile
Annual wage percentiles from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Percentiles are a good proxy for pay by experience.
Projected pay for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today $47,340 → in 3 years $50,200 → in 5 years $52,300 → in 10 years $57,700 (10-year range $49,600–$67,000). The model assumes pay growth of +2.0% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (BLS projected employment growth), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using O*NET work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Employment projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program (2025–35). Annual openings include both new jobs and replacement of workers who leave the occupation.
The same job in Japan
| Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys United States | アナウンサー Japan | ナレーター Japan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | $47,340 | ¥5.83M ≈ $37,094 | ¥5.44M ≈ $34,593 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | $57,700 | ¥7.44M | ¥7.16M |
| Outlook score | 33 | 50 | 40 |
| AI replacement risk | 64% High | 57% Moderate | — |
| Workers | 21K | — | — |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys
Key skills
O*NET skill level ratings (0–7).
Key knowledge areas
What the work involves
Important abilities
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Job Zone 4 — considerable preparation needed (O*NET)
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience and Job Zone)
How to become broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
A step-by-step guide for this occupation is being prepared. The education, training and experience data above show the typical path.
Career path and how to earn more as broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by percentile is shown in the Pay section.