Broadcasting BLS statistics on Radio Day

Pop, rock, hip-hop, country, jazz, classical, or news and talk—whatever your listening pleasure and frequency, radio is transmitting for you! Wednesday, August 20, is Radio Day, celebrating the technology that has provided the soundtrack of our lives for over a century. Radio allows us to begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive, at home, work, or on the open road. Radio ownership was even the basis for a question on the decennial census of 1930.

In May 2024, radio broadcasting stations had employment of about 52,680. Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys (13,710) was the largest occupation in this industry, making up about a quarter of industry jobs. The largest occupations in radio broadcasting stations also included advertising sales agents (7,510), producers and directors (5,500), and broadcast technicians (3,850).

Radio broadcasting stations had an annual mean wage of $68,900 in May 2024, similar to the U.S. average wage of $67,920. Among the largest occupations in this industry, the highest paying were sales managers ($154,510) and general and operations managers ($100,180). Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys had an annual mean wage of $62,330, below the U.S. average wage, while advertising sales agents ($76,210) had above-average wages.

These data are from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. For more information, see the data for radio broadcasting stations. The radio broadcasting stations industry consists of establishments primarily engaged in broadcasting audio programs by radio to the public. This industry does not include satellite radio, internet radio, radio broadcasting networks, or music streaming services, which are classified in media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers.