Broadcast Technicians Career Information
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Significant Points
· Job applicants will face strong competition for the better paying jobs
at radio and television stations serving large cities.
· Television stations employ, on average, many more technicians than do radio stations.
· Evening, weekend, and holiday work is common.
Nature of the Work
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians
install, test, repair, set up, and operate the electronic equipment used to
record and transmit radio and television programs, cable programs, and motion
pictures. They work with television cameras, microphones, tape recorders, lighting,
sound effects, transmitters, antennas, and other equipment. Some
broadcast and sound engineering technicians produce movie soundtracks in motion
picture production studios, control the sound of live events, such as concerts,
or record music in a recording studio.
In the control room of a radio or television-broadcasting studio, these technicians operate equipment that regulates the signal strength, clarity, and range of sounds and colors of recordings or broadcasts. They also operate control panels to select the source of the material. Technicians may switch from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming. By means of hand signals and, in television, telephone headsets, they give technical directions to other studio personnel.
Audio and video equipment operators operate specialized electronic equipment to record stage productions, live programs or events, and studio recordings. They edit and reproduce tapes for compact discs, records and cassettes, for radio and television broadcasting and for motion picture productions. The duties of audio and video equipment operators can be divided into two categories: technical and production activities used in the production of sound and picture images for film or videotape from set design to camera operation and post production activities where raw images are transformed to a final print or tape.
Radio operators mainly receive and transmit communications using a variety of tools. They are also responsible for repairing equipment using such devices as electronic testing equipment, hand tools, and power tools. These help to maintain communication systems in an operative condition.
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators perform a variety of duties in small stations. In large stations and at the networks, technicians are more specialized, although job assignments may change from day to day. The terms "operator," "engineer," and "technician" often are used interchangeably to describe these jobs. Transmitter operators monitor and log outgoing signals and operate transmitters. Maintenance technicians set up, adjust, service, and repair electronic broadcasting equipment. Audio control engineers regulate volume and sound quality of television broadcasts, while video control engineers regulate their fidelity, brightness, and contrast. Recording engineers operate and maintain video and sound recording equipment. They may operate equipment designed to produce special effects, such as the illusions of a bolt of lightning or a police siren. Sound mixers or re-recording mixers produce the sound track of a movie, television, or radio program. After filming or recording, they may use a process called dubbing to insert sounds. Field technicians set up and operate broadcasting portable field transmission equipment outside the studio. Television news coverage requires so much electronic equipment, and the technology is changing so rapidly, that many stations assign technicians exclusively to news.
Chief engineers, transmission engineers, and broadcast field supervisors supervise the technicians who operate and maintain broadcasting equipment.
Working Conditions
Broadcast, sound engineering, audio and video
equipment technicians, and radio operators generally work indoors in pleasant
surroundings. However, those who broadcast news and other programs
from locations outside the studio may work outdoors in all types of weather.
Technicians doing maintenance may climb poles or antenna towers, while those
setting up equipment do heavy lifting.
Technicians in large stations and the networks usually work a 40-hour week under great pressure to meet broadcast deadlines, but may occasionally work overtime. Technicians in small stations routinely work more than 40 hours a week. Evening, weekend, and holiday work is usual, because most stations are on the air 18 to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Those who work on motion pictures may be on a tight schedule to finish according to contract agreements.
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators held about 95,000 jobs in 2009. Their employment was distributed among the following detailed occupations:
| Audio and video equipment technicians | 46,000 |
| Broadcast technicians | 34,000 |
| Sound engineering technicians | 13,000 |
| Radio operators | 2,000 |
About 30 percent worked in broadcasting (except Internet) and 17 percent worked in the motion picture, video, and sound recording industries. About 7 percent were self-employed. Television stations employ, on average, many more technicians than radio stations. Some technicians are employed in other industries, producing employee communications, sales, and training programs. Technician jobs in television and radio are located in virtually all cities; jobs in radio also are found in many small towns. The highest paying and most specialized jobs are concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC—the originating centers for most network or news programs. Motion picture production jobs are concentrated in Los Angeles and New York City.
Training, Qualifications, Adv.
The best way to prepare for a broadcast and
sound engineering technician job is to obtain technical school, community college,
or college training in broadcast technology or in engineering or electronics.
This is particularly true for those who hope to advance to supervisory positions
or jobs at large stations or the networks. In the motion picture industry people
are hired as apprentice editorial assistants and work their way up to more skilled
jobs. Employers in the motion picture industry usually hire experienced freelance
technicians on a picture-by-picture basis. Reputation and determination are
important in getting jobs.
Beginners learn skills on the job from experienced technicians and supervisors. They often begin their careers in small stations and, once experienced, move on to larger ones. Large stations usually only hire technicians with experience. Many employers pay tuition and expenses for courses or seminars to help technicians keep abreast of developments in the field.
Audio and video equipment technicians generally need a high school diploma. Many recent entrants have a community college degree or various other forms of post-secondary degrees, although that is not always a requirement. They may substitute on-the-job training for formal education requirements. Experience in a recording studio, as an assistant, is a great way of getting experience and knowledge simultaneously.
Radio operators do not usually require any formal training. This is an entry-level position that generally requires on-the-job training.
The Federal Communications Commission no longer requires the licensing of broadcast technicians, as the Telecommunications Act of 1996 eliminated this licensing requirement. Certification by the Society of Broadcast Engineers is a mark of competence and experience. The certificate is issued to experienced technicians who pass an examination. By offering the Radio Operator and the Television Operator levels of certification, the Society of Broadcast Engineers has filled the void left by the elimination of the FCC license.
Prospective technicians should take high school courses in math, physics, and electronics. Building electronic equipment from hobby kits and operating a "ham," or amateur radio, are good experience, as is work in college radio and television stations.
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators must have manual dexterity and an aptitude for working with electrical, electronic, and mechanical systems and equipment.
Experienced technicians can become supervisory technicians or chief engineers. A college degree in engineering is needed to become chief engineer at a large TV station.
The overall employment of broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators is expected to for all occupations through the year 2010. An increase in the number of programming hours should require additional technicians. However, employment growth in radio and television broadcasting may be tempered somewhat because of slow growth in the number of new radio and television stations and laborsaving technical advances, such as computer-controlled programming and remote control of transmitters. Technicians who know how to install transmitters will be in demand as television stations replace existing analog transmitters with digital transmitters. Stations will begin broadcasting in both analog and digital formats, eventually switching entirely to digital. Employment of broadcast and sound engineering technicians is expected to grow about as fast as average through 2010. The advancements in technology will enhance the capabilities of technicians to help produce a higher quality of programming for radio and television. Employment of audio and video equipment technicians also is expected to grow about as fast as average through 2010. Not only will these workers have to set up audio and video equipment, but it will be necessary for them to maintain and repair this machinery. Employment of radio operators, on the other hand, will grow more slowly than other areas in this field of work. Automation will negatively impact these workers as many stations now operate transmitters and control programming remotely. Employment of broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators in the cable industry should grow rapidly because of new products coming to market, such as cable modems, which deliver high-speed Internet access to personal computers, and digital set-top boxes, which transmit better sound and pictures, allowing cable operators to offer many more channels than in the past. These new products should cause traditional cable subscribers to sign up for additional services. Employment in the motion picture industry also will grow fast. However, job prospects are expected to remain competitive, because of the large number of people attracted to this relatively small field. Numerous job openings also will result from the need to replace experienced technicians who leave the occupations. Many leave these occupations for electronic jobs in other areas, such as computer technology or commercial and industrial repair. Job Outlook
People seeking entry-level jobs as technicians in the field of radio and television broadcasting are expected to face strong competition in major metropolitan areas, where pay generally is higher and the number of qualified job seekers exceed the number of openings.
Television stations usually pay higher salaries than radio stations; commercial broadcasting usually pays more than public broadcasting; and stations in large markets pay more than those in small markets.
Median annual earnings of audio and video equipment technicians in May 2009 were $32,570. The middle 50 percent earned between $24,180 and $44,290. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $58,620. Median annual earnings in motion picture and video industries, which employed the largest number of audio and video equipment technicians, were $33,670.
Median annual earnings of broadcast technicians in May 2009 were $28,010. The middle 50 percent earned between $19,240 and $42,760. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $14,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $62,850. Median annual earnings in radio and television broadcasting, which employed the largest number of broadcast technicians, were $25,220.
Median annual earnings of sound engineering technicians in May 2009 were $38,110. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,470 and $56,320. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,180, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,450.
Median annual earnings of radio operators in May 2009 were $32,720. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,960 and $43,850. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $57,420.
Related Occupations
Broadcast and sound engineering technicians and radio operators need the electronics training and hand coordination necessary to operate technical equipment, and they generally complete specialized postsecondary programs. Similar occupations include , , health technologists and technicians, , and .
For career information and links to employment resources, contact: For information on certification, contact: For more information on audio and video equipment technicians, contact:Sources of Additional Information