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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Broadcast Technician expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $55,867, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $39,107 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
A career as a Broadcast Technician sits at the intersection of Arts & Media and Creative & Media. Most professionals enter with Associate's or bachelor's, and the field is characterized by steady. The work itself is studio/field. Understanding that context matters: it explains why certain markets pay premiums and others lag.
$61,920 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Broadcast Technician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
Breaking down the numbers: entry-level Broadcast Technicians average $40,224, the median sits at $55,867, and senior earners pull in $79,331. That $39,107 gap represents the full earning trajectory of this career. The median is $24,500 below the national median household income of $80,367 — which tells you location and cost of living are critical factors in making this salary work.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $95,040, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $40,160. The $54,880 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Broadcast Technician in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $101,760 — $61,920 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($39,840). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $40,224 | $55,867 | $79,331 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £20,903 | £29,032 | £41,225 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$30,160 | CA$41,890 | CA$59,483 |
| Australia | 13 | A$33,481 | A$46,501 | A$66,032 |
| Sweden | 24 | 213,538 kr | 296,581 kr | 421,145 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $48,548 | $67,428 | $95,748 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $46,915 | $65,160 | $92,527 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $46,656 | $64,800 | $92,016 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $43,200 | $60,000 | $85,200 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $42,682 | $59,280 | $84,178 |
| Washington | 8 | $41,861 | $58,140 | $82,559 |
| New York | 5 | $39,399 | $54,720 | $77,703 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $39,398 | $54,720 | $77,702 |
| Florida | 22 | $39,100 | $54,305 | $77,114 |
| Colorado | 11 | $38,424 | $53,367 | $75,781 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $38,362 | $53,280 | $75,658 |
| Nevada | 5 | $38,293 | $53,184 | $75,521 |
| Arizona | 12 | $38,102 | $52,920 | $75,146 |
| Oregon | 5 | $38,016 | $52,800 | $74,976 |
| Idaho | 3 | $37,901 | $52,640 | $74,749 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $37,601 | $52,224 | $74,158 |
| Utah | 4 | $37,498 | $52,080 | $73,954 |
| Virginia | 7 | $36,881 | $51,223 | $72,737 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $36,403 | $50,560 | $71,795 |
| Alaska | 1 | $36,288 | $50,400 | $71,568 |
| Illinois | 5 | $35,873 | $49,824 | $70,750 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $34,982 | $48,587 | $68,993 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Montana | 1 | $34,560 | $48,000 | $68,160 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $34,445 | $47,840 | $67,933 |
| Texas | 40 | $34,275 | $47,604 | $67,598 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $34,215 | $47,520 | $67,479 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $34,042 | $47,280 | $67,138 |
| Georgia | 6 | $33,926 | $47,120 | $66,910 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $33,869 | $47,040 | $66,797 |
| Kansas | 4 | $33,696 | $46,800 | $66,456 |
| Michigan | 6 | $33,581 | $46,640 | $66,229 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Maryland | 1 | $33,178 | $46,080 | $65,434 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $31,795 | $44,160 | $62,707 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Missouri | 4 | $31,363 | $43,560 | $61,855 |
| Alabama | 5 | $31,242 | $43,392 | $61,616 |
| Indiana | 3 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $30,758 | $42,720 | $60,662 |
| Iowa | 2 | $30,413 | $42,240 | $59,981 |
| Ohio | 6 | $30,355 | $42,160 | $59,867 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $29,030 | $40,320 | $57,254 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Broadcast Technician median of $67,428 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($65,160) and Hawaii ($64,800). The demand picture adds context to these salary numbers. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $40,320 and $42,240. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($101,760 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $48,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $101,760 | 212 | $48,000 | $62,976 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $95,040 | 198 | $48,000 | $59,167 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $88,320 | 184 | $48,000 | $55,334 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $86,880 | 181 | $48,000 | $54,512 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $85,440 | 178 | $48,000 | $53,691 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $84,960 | 177 | $48,000 | $53,417 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $83,040 | 173 | $48,000 | $52,321 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $81,120 | 169 | $48,000 | $51,226 |
The $39,107 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Broadcast Technician career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Creative & Media sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Broadcast Technicians is $55,867 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $40,224, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $79,331.
The highest-paying city for Broadcast Technicians is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $101,760. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($101,760), Santa Clara ($95,040), Irvine ($88,320). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Broadcast Technician salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $39,840. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Broadcast Technicians (10th percentile) average $40,224 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $73,267. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Broadcast Technicians average $79,331 nationally — $39,107 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Broadcast Technicians can earn up to $144,499.
The top-paying states for Broadcast Technicians are California ($67,428 median), Massachusetts ($65,160 median), Hawaii ($64,800 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Broadcast Technician involves Associate's or bachelor's. The field is in the Creative & Media sector (Arts & Media), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically studio/field.
With a national median of $55,867 and representation across 288 metro areas, Broadcast Technician offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $39,107 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.