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Employment
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators held about 95,000 jobs in 2004. Their employment was distributed among the following detailed occupations:Audio and video equipment technicians 46,000 broadcast technicians 34,000 sound engineering technicians 13,000 radio operators 2,000 about 30 percent worked in broadcasting (except Internet) and 17 percent worked in the motion picture, video, and sound recording industries. About 7 percent were self-employed. Television stations employ, on average, many more technicians than radio stations. Some technicians are employed in other industries, producing employee communications, sales, and training programs. Technician jobs in Television and radio are located in virtually all cities; jobs in radio also are found in many small towns. The highest paying and most specialized jobs are concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC, the originating centers for most network or news programs. Motion picture production jobs are concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City.
Earnings
Television stations usually pay higher salaries than radio stations; commercial broadcasting usually pays more than public broadcasting; and stations in large markets pay more than those in small markets. Median annual earnings of audio and video equipment technicians in May 2004 were $32,570. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,180 and $44,290. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,620. Median annual earnings in motion picture and video industries, which employed the largest number of audio and video equipment technicians, were $33,670. Median annual earnings of broadcast technicians in May 2004 were $28,010. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,240 and $42,760. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,850. Median annual earnings in radio and television broadcasting, which employed the largest number of broadcast technicians, were $25,220. Median annual earnings of sound engineering technicians in May 2004 were $38,110. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,470 and $56,320. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,450. Median annual earnings of radio operators in May 2004 were $32,720. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,960 and $43,850. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,420.
Related Occupations
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators need the electronics training necessary to operate technical equipment, and they generally complete specialized postsecondary programs. Occupations with similar characteristics include engineering technicians, science technicians, and electrical and electronics installers and repairers. Broadcast and sound engineering technicians also may operate computer networks, as do computer support specialists and systems administrators. Broadcast technicians on some live radio and Television programs screen incoming calls; these workers have responsibilities similar to those of communications equipment operators.
Common Lay Titles
Audio Technician
Audio Visual Technician
Audio-Visual Production Specialist
Audio/Visual Manager
Audio/Visual Operator
Audiovisual Communications Systems Technician
Broadcast Engineer
Broadcast Technician
Communications Technician
Equipment Technician
Instructional Systems Specialist
Laserist
Light Technician
Lighting Equipment Operator
Master Control Engineer
Master Control Operator (MCO)
Media Technician
Multimedia Educational Specialist
Multimedia Production Assistant
Music Sound Light Technician
Operations Technician
Photographer
Photojournalist
Planetarium Technician
Production Assistant
Production Sound Mixer
Projectionist
Projector Operator
Sight Effects Specialist
Sound Controller
Special Effects Designer
Special Effects Specialist
Stage Technician
Stagehand
Technical Director
Technician, Audio Visual
Technician, Communications
Technician, Communications, Operate Equipment
Television Technician
Theater Technician
Video Control Operator
Video Editor
Video Operator
Video Production Assistant
Video Technician
Videographer
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Schools Offering Degrees for
Audio and Video Equipment Technicians |
 | Universal Technical Institute - National | Online | | | CDIA - Center for Digital Media Arts | Campus | Waltham, MA 02453 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Needham, MA 02494 | | New England Institute of Technology | Campus | Warwick, RI 02886 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Farmington, CT 06032 | | Ridley Lowell Business and Technical Institute | Campus | New London, CT 06320 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Pawcatuck, CT 06379 | | Today's Tec | Campus | Wallingford, CT 06492 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Stratford, CT 06661 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 | | Technology Career Services | Campus | New York, NY 10004 | | NetCom Information Technology | Campus | New York, NY 10118 | | Five Towns College | Campus | Dix Hills, NY 11746 | | Sanford-Brown Institute | Campus | Melville, NY 11747 | | Recording Engineers Institute | Campus | Islandia, NY 11749 | | Metropolitan Career Center Computer Technology Institute | Campus | Philadelphia, PA 19110 | | Nextec | Campus | Herndon, VA 20170 | | Computer Career Institute at Johns Hopkins | Campus | Columbia, MD 21046 | | Computer Career Institute at Johns Hopkins | Campus | Baltimore, MD 21224 | | University of Maryland | Campus | Baltimore, MD 21250 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Arlington, VA 22202 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Charlottesville, VA 22901 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Martinsville, VA 24114 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Salem, VA 24153 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Lynchburg, VA 24502 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Danville, VA 24540 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Bluefield, VA 24605 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Atlanta, GA 30338 | | FastTrain | Campus | Jacksonville, FL 32256 | | IT Micronet | Campus | Orlando, FL 32809 | | Florida Metropolitan University | Campus | Orlando, FL 32810 | | Audio Recording Technology Institute | Campus | Orlando, FL 32811 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Orlando, FL 32839 | | Florida Metropolitan University | Campus | Melbourne, FL 32935 | | IT Micronet | Campus | Melbourne, FL 32935 | | Florida Career College | Campus | Hialeah, FL 33012 | | Florida Career College | Campus | Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 | | FastTrain | Campus | Pembroke Pines, FL 33028 | | ATI Career Training Center | Campus | Miami, FL 33122 | | FastTrain | Campus | Miami, FL 33134 | | Florida Career College | Campus | Miami, FL 33174 | | FastTrain | Campus | Kendall, FL 33176 | | ATI Career Training Center | Campus | Oakland Park, FL 33309 | | ATI Career Training Center | Campus | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 | | FastTrain | Campus | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311 | | Florida Career College | Campus | Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33319 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Davie, FL 33328 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Palm Beach Gradens, FL 33403 | | Florida Career College | Campus | West Palm Beach, FL 33417 | | FastTrain | Campus | Tampa, FL 33607 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Tampa, FL 33619 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Tampa, FL 33634 | | National Aviation Academy A & P School | Campus | Clearwater, FL 33760 | | FastTrain | Campus | Clearwater, FL 33761 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Nashville, TN 37214 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Nashville, TN 37214 | | Chattanooga College - Medical, Dental and Technical | Campus | Chattanooga, TN 37411 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Knoxville, TN 37919 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Louisville, KY 40216 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Danville, KY 40422 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Lexington, KY 40508 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Stow, OH 44224 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Youngstown, OH 44505 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Cincinnati, OH 45237 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Kettering, OH 45420 | | National College of Business and Technology | Campus | Indianapolis, IN 46250 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Troy, MI 48083 | | New Horizons Computer Learning Centers | Campus | Livonia, MI 48154 | | New Horizons Computer Learning Centers | Campus | Flint, MI 48507 | | New Horizons Computer Learning Centers | Campus | East Lansing, MI 48823 | | New Horizons Computer Learning Centers | Campus | Kalamazoo, MI 49002 | | New Horizons Computer Learning Centers | Campus | Grand Rapids, MI 49546 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Des Moines, IA 50323 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Mason City, IA 50401 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Cedar Falls, IA 50613 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Cedar Rapids, IA 52404 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Davenport, IA 52807 | | Madison Media Institute | Campus | Madison, WI 53718 | | Minneapolis Business College | Campus | Roseville, MN 55113 | | Minnesota School of Business | Campus | Oakdale, MN 55128 | | Institute of Production and Recording | Campus | Minneapolis, MN 55401 | | Minnesota School of Business | Campus | Richfield, MN 55423 | | Minnesota School of Business | Campus | Brooklyn Center, MN 55430 | | Minnesota School of Business | Campus | Plymouth, MN 55447 | | Minnesota School of Business | Campus | Waite Park, MN 56387 | | Flashpoint Academy | Campus | Chicago, IL 60602 | | International Academy of Design and Technology | Campus | Chicago, IL 60602 | | Coyne American Institute Inc | Campus | Chicago, IL 60607 | | Missouri Tech | Campus | Saint Louis, MO 63132 | | Wichita Technical Insitute | Campus | Joplin, MO 64804 | | Wichita Technical Institute | Campus | Topeka, KS 66609 | | Wichita Technical Institute | Campus | Wichita, KS 67213 | | Kaplan University | Campus | Lincoln, NE 68508 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Irving, TX 75038 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Houston, TX 77027 | | Lamson Institute | Campus | San Antonio, TN 78238 | | Connecticut School of Broadcasting | Campus | Austin, TX 78759 | | |
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