Arts, design, media and sports
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
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.
Median pay
$47,340
Growth to 2035
−8%
declining
Openings a year
2,000
Time to qualify*
Minimal
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
Calculate your switch to broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys: 42% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Anchor · Announcer · DJ (Disc Jockey) · Host · Morning Show Host · On-Air Host · On-Air Personality · Radio Announcer
Outlook and AI
Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys held 21,800 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 20,200 by 2035 (−8%, declining; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. News analysts, reporters, and journalists
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Producers and directors
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Film and video editors
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Disc jockeys, except radio
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Editor
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Writers and authors
- Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys vs. Public relations specialist