Public address system and other announcers held about 10,400 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of public address system and other announcers were as follows:
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | 29% |
| Self-employed workers | 28 |
| Food services and drinking places | 25 |
Radio and television announcers held about 38,300 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of radio and television announcers were as follows:
| Radio broadcasting | 53% |
| Self-employed workers | 27 |
| Television broadcasting | 8 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 3 |
Radio and television announcers usually work in well-lit, air-conditioned, soundproof studios. Some radio DJs can produce and record their shows while working from home.
The pressure of deadlines and tight work schedules can be stressful.
Work Schedules
Some announcers work part time.
Many radio and television stations are on air 24 hours a day. Some announcers present early morning shows, while others do late-night programs. Some announcers have to work weekends or on holidays.
The shifts, however, are not as varied today as in the past. More stations are recording shows during the day, eliminating the need to have an announcer work overnight hours.
Educational requirements for announcers vary. Radio and television announcers typically need a bachelor’s degree in journalism, broadcasting, or communications, along with other experience gained from internships or working at their college radio or television station. Public address announcers typically need a high school diploma with some short-term on-the-job training.
Education
Public address announcers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. Radio and television announcers typically need a bachelor’s degree in communications, broadcasting, or journalism, but some jobs require only a high school diploma or equivalent.
College broadcasting programs offer courses, such as voice and diction, to help students improve their vocal qualities. In addition, these programs prepare students to work with the computer and audio equipment and software used at radio and television studios.
Training
Public address system and other announcers typically need short-term on-the-job training upon being hired. This training allows these announcers to become familiar with the equipment they will use during sporting and entertainment events. For sports public address announcers, training also may include basic rules and information for the sports they are covering.
Radio and television announcers whose highest level of education is a high school diploma or equivalent may also need some short-term on-the-job training to learn to operate audio and production equipment.
Other Experience
Some employers expect radio and television announcer applicants to have some announcing experience prior to employment. Applicants typically gain these skills from their college degree program, working on college radio or television stations, or through internships.
Advancement
Because radio and television stations in smaller markets have smaller staff, advancement within the same small-market station is unlikely. Rather, many radio and television announcers advance by relocating to a large-market station.
Announcers typically need a few years at a small-market station to work out the “kinks” of their on-air personalities. During that time, they learn to sound more comfortable and credible as an on-air talent and become more conversational with their cohosts and guests. Therefore, time and experience allow applicants to advance to positions in larger markets, which offer higher pay and more responsibility and challenges.
When making hiring decisions, large-market stations rely on announcers’ personalities and past performance. Radio and television announcers need to have proven that they can attract, engage, and keep the attention of a sizeable audience.
Many stations also rely on radio and television announcers to do other tasks, such as creating and updating a social media presence on social networking sites, making promotional appearances on behalf of the station, or even selling commercial time to advertisers. Therefore, an applicant needs to have demonstrated versatility and flexibility at the smaller market station.
Radio and television announcers typically have an interest in the Creating and Persuading interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Persuading interest area indicates a focus on influencing, motivating, and selling to other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Creating or Persuading interest which might fit with a career as a radio and television announcer, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Radio and television announcers should also possess the following specific qualities:
Computer skills. Announcers, especially those seeking careers in radio, should have good computer skills and be able to use computers, editing equipment, and other broadcast-related devices.
Interpersonal skills. Radio and television announcers must be able to interview guests and answer phone calls on air. Party disc jockeys (DJs) and emcees should be comfortable working with clients to plan entertainment options.
Persistence. Entry into this occupation is very competitive, and many auditions may be needed for an opportunity to work on the air. Many entry-level announcers must be willing to work for a small station and be flexible to move to a small market to secure their first job.
Research skills. Announcers must research the important topics of the day in order to be knowledgeable enough to comment on them during their program.
Speaking skills. Announcers must have a pleasant and well-controlled voice, good timing, and excellent pronunciation.
Writing skills. Announcers need strong writing skills, because they normally write their own material.
The median annual wage for public address system and other announcers was $27,720 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,250, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,760.
The median annual wage for radio and television announcers was $33,220 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,120, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $94,450.
In May 2018, the median annual wages for public address system and other announcers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries | $33,700 |
| Food services and drinking places | 24,540 |
In May 2018, the median annual wages for radio and television announcers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| Television broadcasting | $47,020 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 43,890 |
| Radio broadcasting | 31,050 |
In general, announcers working in larger markets earn more than those working in smaller markets.
Some announcers work part time.
Many radio and television stations are on air 24 hours a day. Some announcers present early morning shows, and others do late-night programs. Some announcers have to work weekends or on holidays.
The shifts, however, are not as varied today as in the past. More stations are recording shows during the day, eliminating the need to have an announcer work overnight hours.
Overall employment of announcers is projected to decline 5 percent from 2018 to 2028.
Employment of radio and television announcers is projected to decline 7 percent from 2018 to 2028. Employment of public address system and other announcers is projected to grow 3 percent from 2018 to 2028, slower than the average for all occupations.
Continuing consolidation of radio and television stations will limit the employment growth for radio and television announcers. Many stations have consolidated and centralized their programming functions, including on-air announcing positions.
Consolidation among broadcasting companies also may contribute to increasing use of syndicated programming and programs originating outside a station’s viewing or listening area. Radio stations can use voice tracking, also called “cyber jockeying,” to prerecord their segments rather than air them live. A radio announcer, therefore, can record many segments for use at a later date or even on another radio station in another media market.
This technique allows stations to use fewer employees, while still appearing to air live shows, and it can be more cost effective than airing live or local programming. However, it has eliminated most late-night shifts and allowed multiple stations to use material from the same announcer.
In addition, over-the-air radio broadcasts will continue to face competition from an increasing number of online and satellite radio stations. More listeners, particularly younger listeners, are tuning into these stations, which can be personalized and set to play nonstop music based on a listener’s preferences. The growing popularity of these online stations may reduce the amount of time audiences spend listening to traditional radio broadcasts, in turn decreasing the demand for radio DJs.
However, Internet radio and podcasts may positively influence employment growth. Startup costs for these mediums are relatively lower than the costs for land-based radio. These stations can be used to create niche programming or target a specific demographic or listening audience and provide new opportunities for announcers.
In addition, the growing number of national news and satellite stations may increase the demand for local radio and television programs. Listeners want local programs with news and information that are more relevant to their communities instead of nationalized content. Therefore, to distinguish themselves from other stations or other media formats, stations may add local elements to their broadcasts.
Public address system announcers will continue to be needed to present important information to customers or provide entertainment for special events.
Job Prospects
Strong competition is expected for people seeking jobs as a radio or television announcer. Many of the openings will be due to people leaving jobs and the need to replace workers who move out of smaller markets or out of the radio or television fields entirely.
Applicants need to be persistent and flexible because many entry-level positions will require moving to a smaller market city. Small radio and television stations are more inclined to hire beginners, but the pay is low.
Those with a formal education in journalism, broadcasting, or mass communications and with hands-on work experience at a radio or television network will have the best job prospects.
In addition, because announcers may be responsible for gathering video or audio for their programs or for updating and maintaining the station’s website, multimedia and computer skills are beneficial.
For more information about the broadcasting industry, in which many announcers are employed, visit
National Association of Broadcasters
For more information on sports public address announcers, visit
National Association of Sports Public Address Announcers