Broadcast Technician Salary
Broadcast Technicians earn a median $59,570 a year nationally. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations
U.S. median
$59,570
$28.64 per hour
Range
$31,390 – $123,670
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
21,110
across the U.S.
Broadcast Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$50,044
per year · effective tax rate 16.0%
$4,170Monthly
$2,085Twice a month
$1,925Every 2 weeks
$24.06Hourly
- Federal income tax$4,968
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,693
- Medicare (1.45%)$864
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$50,044
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,390 | $15.09 | $27,402 |
| 25th percentile | $40,320 | $19.38 | $34,577 |
| Median (50th) | $59,570 | $28.64 | $50,044 |
| 75th percentile | $83,520 | $40.15 | $67,586 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $123,670 | $59.46 | $95,794 |
Best cities for broadcast technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $103,180 | $78,250 | $76,301 | 460 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $96,060 | $71,798 | $69,306 | 520 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $96,820 | $72,271 | $64,205 | 2,010 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $78,050 | $61,012 | $57,677 | 700 |
| 5 | Miami, FL | $74,490 | $61,234 | $53,641 | 510 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $75,010 | $58,170 | $53,424 | 710 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $63,500 | $53,202 | $51,608 | 490 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $77,790 | $59,533 | $51,493 | 540 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Philadelphia, PA — $103,180
- New York, NY — $96,820
- Chicago, IL — $96,060
- Denver, CO — $78,050
- San Francisco, CA — $77,790
- Washington, DC — $75,010
- Miami, FL — $74,490
- Dallas, TX — $63,500
Broadcast Technician salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $108,270 | $78,763 | $45,220 – $133,880 | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $81,150 | $65,919 | $61,350 – $132,880 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,470 | $62,970 | $27,720 – $162,500 | 950 |
| New York | $78,840 | $60,634 | $37,740 – $136,310 | 1,690 |
| Illinois | $74,210 | $57,508 | $35,130 – $128,130 | 690 |
| Colorado | $74,040 | $58,368 | $45,840 – $111,870 | 820 |
| Nevada | $73,070 | $60,235 | $31,330 – $108,610 | 280 |
| Arizona | $73,040 | $58,596 | $38,300 – $132,820 | 530 |
| California | $72,800 | $56,487 | $38,480 – $129,640 | 2,340 |
| Florida | $64,950 | $54,367 | $31,970 – $124,420 | 1,130 |
| Maryland | $64,030 | $50,950 | $35,880 – $122,990 | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $62,400 | $50,354 | $30,020 – $82,400 | 410 |
| Washington | $62,070 | $52,053 | $37,760 – $96,690 | 270 |
| Connecticut | $58,930 | $47,803 | $45,130 – $102,490 | 700 |
| Virginia | $57,940 | $46,217 | $28,430 – $82,510 | 710 |
| Maine | $55,110 | $43,923 | $40,040 – $82,180 | 90 |
| New Mexico | $49,990 | $41,163 | $37,340 – $73,990 | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $49,580 | $40,775 | $31,200 – $84,720 | 110 |
| Texas | $49,440 | $41,905 | $29,580 – $97,330 | 1,380 |
| Hawaii | $49,200 | $39,486 | $29,120 – $97,550 | 70 |
| Ohio | $48,720 | $40,769 | $24,960 – $99,800 | 430 |
| North Dakota | $48,090 | $40,820 | $27,040 – $85,850 | 80 |
| North Carolina | $47,780 | $39,174 | $35,000 – $88,460 | 580 |
| Michigan | $47,730 | $38,753 | $28,660 – $86,540 | 580 |
| Georgia | $47,340 | $38,384 | $26,250 – $94,300 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $47,340 | $40,218 | $30,100 – $78,870 | 400 |
| Alabama | $47,290 | $38,078 | $27,680 – $79,410 | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $47,260 | $38,010 | $36,370 – $82,920 | 560 |
| South Carolina | $46,860 | $38,178 | $30,630 – $82,010 | 210 |
| Iowa | $46,820 | $38,673 | $23,320 – $79,050 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $46,790 | $38,091 | $32,160 – $80,040 | 330 |
| Montana | $46,600 | $38,190 | $35,890 – $87,140 | 60 |
| Idaho | $44,730 | $36,858 | $24,680 – $109,990 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $44,530 | $36,502 | $20,490 – $97,640 | 240 |
| Louisiana | $44,440 | $36,941 | $28,800 – $77,280 | 120 |
| Oregon | $44,420 | $34,814 | $31,900 – $75,930 | 220 |
| Indiana | $44,400 | $36,575 | $35,410 – $74,260 | 760 |
| Nebraska | $43,680 | $36,169 | $28,080 – $68,430 | 160 |
| Arkansas | $41,870 | $34,402 | $23,760 – $62,580 | 220 |
| Kansas | $41,600 | $34,084 | $21,520 – $130,000 | 90 |
| Missouri | $41,600 | $34,588 | $31,650 – $81,890 | 300 |
| Kentucky | $40,240 | $33,222 | $18,510 – $70,880 | 230 |
| Wyoming | $39,380 | $33,822 | $25,950 – $65,230 | 50 |
| South Dakota | $32,150 | $28,013 | $27,270 – $55,360 | 40 |
| Utah | $31,490 | $27,031 | $22,110 – $81,060 | 300 |
| Mississippi | $27,750 | $24,084 | $23,310 – $63,210 | 60 |
| West Virginia | $27,310 | $23,423 | $21,140 – $60,820 | 120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a broadcast technician make?
The national median salary for broadcast technicians is $59,570 a year ($28.64 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $31,390 and the top 10% earn over $123,670. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays broadcast technicians the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $108,270. After taxes and local prices, Philadelphia, PA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many broadcast technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 21,110 people work as broadcast technicians nationwide.