Broadcast Technicians
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.
21,110 people do this job in the US. $59,570 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 32%
- 0%
- 68%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 1%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 23%. Today's estimate: 26%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 28 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Produce educational and training films and videotapes by performing activities, such as selecting equipment and preparing scripts.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 21% | 4.2 work days6.7 h to 2.5 work weeks | Stays with people | |
| Design and modify equipment to employer specifications.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 13% | 6.7 h1.7 h to 2.5 work days | Stays with people | |
| Install broadcast equipment, troubleshoot equipment problems, and perform maintenance or minor repairs, using hand tools.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 9% | 1.7 h38 min to 5 h | Stays with people | |
| Set up, operate, and maintain broadcast station computers and networks.Done daily by most who do it. | 9% | 1.7 h38 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Record sound onto tape or film for radio or television, checking its quality and making adjustments where necessary.Done hourly or more by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 h25 min to 2.5 h | Stays with people | |
| Edit broadcast material electronically, using computers.Done more than weekly by most who do it. | 5% | 1.7 h25 min to 5 h | 51%Half by now | |
| Control audio equipment to regulate volume and sound quality during radio and television broadcasts.Done several times a day by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min13 min to 2.5 h | 79%Half by now | |
| Monitor strength, clarity, and reliability of incoming and outgoing signals, and adjust equipment as necessary to maintain quality broadcasts.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 38 min13 min to 1.7 h | 95%Half by now | |
| Observe monitors and converse with station personnel to determine audio and video levels and to ascertain that programs are airing.Done daily by most who do it. | 4% | 50 min13 min to 2.5 h | 79%Half by now | |
| Preview scheduled programs to ensure that signals are functioning and programs are ready for transmission.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 38 min13 min to 1.3 h | 98%Half by now | |
| Report equipment problems, ensure that repairs are made, and make emergency repairs to equipment when necessary and possible.Done daily by most who do it. | 3% | 50 min13 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Play and record broadcast programs, using automation systems.Done daily by most who do it. | 2% | 25 min13 min to 1.3 h | 100%Half by now |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
- Audio and Video Technicians25% now, 54% by 2028
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians17% now, 49% by 2028
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment14% now, 20% by 2028
- Robotics Technicians11% now, 26% by 2028
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers82% now, 91% by 2028
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians17% now, 55% by 2028
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).