The Strong Interest Inventory was originally released in 1927. Since then, it has been used as a career guide by thousands of people choosing a career or considering making a career change. The Strong Interest Inventory has two stages. First, job seekers take a multi-faceted assessment that measures their preferences in many areas, such as whether they lean toward a loose or strict professional structure, what level of independence they prefer, and more. Furthermore, the Strong Interest Inventory also gauges preferences for specific subject areas. Once the initial assessment is completed, answers are compared to a database of thousands of professionals already working in various careers and their preferences. For example, a job seeker whose answers are more similar to salespeople than scientists will be directed towards the former career rather than the latter. Moreover, the interest inventory also guides job seekers toward one or more of six career categories (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional), which may appeal to them. For example, Broadcast Announcers are considered Artistic careers because of their close ties to the music and entertainment industries.
Read about a career as a broadcast announcer, including information such as broadcast announcer salary, daily tasks, and other career information.
Broadcast Announcers, sometimes called Disc Jockeys or Radio Anchors, typically host media programs and read scripted reports, such as news, commercial messages, information about musical artists, and more. Some improvisational skills are also needed, particularly when accepting input or requests from listeners or while interviewing a live guest. Some Broadcast Announcers play music, develop playlists, or announce artist information, while others comment on sports or other public events, host civic events like telethons, or attend press conferences to collect additional information to be reported.
Regardless of the specifics of their show, all Broadcast Announcers must prepare for their airtime by studying background information. For newscasters, this might mean staying abreast of current events, while music show hosts might need to listen to artists’ most recent releases. While some Broadcast Announcers may have complete control over their content, others may need to correspond with producers or assistants to decide what to include. Their priorities are staying within their program’s scope and topic, considering their audience’s interests, and integrating any requests they receive from the public. Broadcast Announcers must also have a sense of timing and be able to memorize short scripts. They may, for instance, need to announce a commercial break or the end of their show by using a specific script at a certain time. There could be significant consequences for missing a break or exceeding their allotted time.
While some announcers may focus primarily on being on-air personalities, many announcers need to develop expertise in operating control consoles, audio, and video editing, script preparation, and more. The tools and technologies used will vary depending on their specific responsibilities. Broadcast Announcers may need to be familiar with statistical processing software, database software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software such as Dalet Digital Media Systems Media Life, and sound editing software such as Adobe Systems Adobe Audition, Avid Technology Pro tools, and more. Like most modern careers, Broadcast Announcers also require a basic familiarity with web browsers and standard office software, such as Microsoft Office Suite and Google Suite.
At their core, Broadcast Announcers are communications professionals. To succeed, they must be proficient in written and spoken English or other relevant languages and know about media production and audience engagement. They must also be able to adapt to changing circumstances while seeming natural and effortless. Most Broadcast Announcers develop their expertise through a combination of formal education and work experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 55% of Broadcast Announcers have completed a Bachelor’s degree, 10% have completed an Associate’s, and an additional 10% have completed some college without having earned a degree. There is no data on the remaining 25% of professionals.
The median salary for Broadcast Announcers in the United States is $18.09 hourly, which comes to an annual salary of $37,630. However, there is a very long right tail, with the top 10% of Broadcast Announcers earning nearly $100,000 annually. Moreover, there is considerable geographic variation. The median salary in Louisiana is about $22,000, while the median in California is more than twice that, approaching $50,000. There are 30,700 Broadcast Announcers employed in the US as of 2021 data reports, but this number is expected to grow by 10%-15% by 2030, adding an estimated 3,300 jobs.
Below are some employment trends for Broadcast Announcers:
- Median Salary: $37,630 annually
- Employment: 30,700 employees
- Projected growth (2020-2030): Faster than average (10-15%)
- Projected job openings (2020-2030): 3,300
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Click on one of these to access more Artistic Theme Code Careers: Actors, Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Broadcast News Analysts, Choreographers, Cook, Dancers, Fashion Designers, Floral Designers, Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Interior Designers, Landscape Architects, Makeup Artists, Merchandise Displayers, Models, Multimedia Artists and Animators, Musicians, Photographers, Post-Secondary English Language and Literature Teachers, Post-Secondary Teachers, Preschool Teachers, Radio and Television Announcers, Set Designers, Singers, Sociologists, Sound Engineering Technicians, Tile Setters, Translators & Interpreters, Training and Development Specialists, and Video Game Designers.
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References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data and 2012-2022 employment projections Onetonline.org