Find Trade Colleges
Broadcast Technicians in Montana
Thinking about a career as a Broadcast Technicians in Montana? Here’s what you need to know. Set up, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used to acquire, edit, and transmit audio and video for radio or television programs. Control and adjust incoming and outgoing broadcast signals to regulate sound volume, signal strength, and signal clarity. Operate satellite, microwave, or other transmitter equipment to broadcast radio or television programs.
What do Broadcast Technicians Make in Montana?
The broadcast technicians working in Montana, the typical annual salary is $47,850 per year (or roughly $23.01/hour).Earnings range from $29,300 at the 10th percentile to $84,260 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,300 | $14.09 |
| 25th percentile | $36,470 | $17.53 |
| Median (50th) | $47,850 | $23.01 |
| 75th percentile | $82,850 | $39.83 |
| 90th percentile | $84,260 | $40.51 |
The job concentration index in Montana compared to the national average — is 1.22, meaning that broadcast technicians are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, broadcast technicians earn a median of $74,153 per year ($35.65/hour), below the Montana median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 113,714 broadcast technicians in the U.S.. In Montana alone, approximately 90 people work in this role. That’s below the typical state, which employs around 290 broadcast technicians.
Top States for Broadcast Technicians Employment
The table below shows the states where the most broadcast technicians work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 2,520 |
| New York | 1,800 |
| Florida | 1,250 |
| Texas | 1,120 |
| Pennsylvania | 970 |
| Colorado | 900 |
| Indiana | 670 |
| Virginia | 670 |
| North Carolina | 660 |
| Georgia | 650 |
| Ohio | 640 |
| Illinois | 580 |
| Michigan | 550 |
| Massachusetts | 540 |
| New Jersey | 460 |
| Arizona | 460 |
| Wisconsin | 430 |
| Minnesota | 430 |
| Tennessee | 420 |
| Maryland | 370 |
Highest-Paying States for Broadcast Technicians
These states pay the most for broadcast technicians.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $96,520 |
| New York | $80,980 |
| Illinois | $74,990 |
| California | $73,780 |
| Connecticut | $72,410 |
| Nevada | $67,910 |
| Arizona | $63,080 |
| Colorado | $60,860 |
| Maryland | $58,850 |
| Pennsylvania | $57,250 |
Skills
Key broadcast technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Top abilities for broadcast technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, broadcast technicians typically:
- Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.
- Monitor and log transmitter readings.
- Maintain programming logs as required by station management and the Federal Communications Commission.
- Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.
- Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.
- Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.
- Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.
- Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.
- Select sources from which programming will be received or through which programming will be transmitted.
- Install broadcast equipment, troubleshoot equipment problems, and perform maintenance or minor repairs, using hand tools.
- Substitute programs in cases where signals fail.
- Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.
Work Activities
- Working with Computers
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Getting Information
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel
Related Careers
Other careers like broadcast technicians include:
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Computer Network Architects
- Telecommunications Engineering Specialists
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer
- Radio Frequency Identification Device Specialists
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
Also Known As
Audio Engineer, Audio Operator, Board Operator, Broadcast Engineer, Broadcast Maintenance Engineer, Broadcast Operations Engineer, Broadcast Operations Technician, Broadcast Technician, Color Technician, Control Engineer, Control Operator, Control Room Operator, Control Room Technician, Digital Production Assistant, Engineering Operator.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 27-4012.00