What Does a Broadcast Producer Do?
Broadcast producers line up guests, write scripts and plan a radio or TV program minute by minute, then direct the recording from the control room. The shows range from daily news magazines and weekly arts hours to documentaries and podcasts, made at public and commercial stations and production companies. Every segment is timed to the second.
Also known as: Media Producer-Director, Television Producer-Writer, Radio Program Producer, Television Producer-Director, Senior Television Producer-Director
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Artistic Director, Director, Executive Producer, Multimedia Producer, News Producer, Producer, Production Director, Radio Producer.
Broadcast Producer Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a broadcast producer include:
- Pitch and develop story ideas, series and segment formats with hosts and editors.
- Book guests, prepare them for interviews and send them briefing notes in advance.
- Write scripts, host intros and promos that fit exact time slots.
- Build show rundowns that time every segment, break and station identification.
- Direct studio recordings and live shows from the control room.
- Edit audio and video in Adobe Audition, Premiere Pro or Avid.
- Clear music and archival footage rights before a program airs.
- Manage production budgets for freelancers, travel and equipment rentals.
- Check facts, names and pronunciations before anything goes to air.
- Publish segments as podcasts and web posts with transcripts and show notes.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a broadcast producer, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Story sense and interviewing
- Scriptwriting to time
- Audio and video editing
- Studio and control room workflow
- Rights and clearance basics
- Tight deadline management
- Collaboration with hosts, reporters and crews
- Accuracy and fairness standards
Education and Training
Campus and community stations are where many producers first learn to book guests and edit audio, usually as volunteers. Stations tend to hire graduates with a bachelor's degree in journalism, communications or film as production assistants, then promote them to associate producer. Executive producer and program director are the senior posts.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $62,670 - $134,800 per year, with a median of $90,360.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Producers and Directors.
According to BLS, growth for producers and directors is projected at about 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 12,100 openings a year across film, TV, radio and stage. Demand will grow for several reasons, including podcasts; streaming video, such as station apps and YouTube channels; and local news, as audiences look for coverage of their own towns. Some become hosts.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Producers and directors.
Broadcast Producer Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $45,780 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $62,670 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $90,360 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $134,800 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $198,540 |
Highest-Paying States for Broadcast Producers
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are California ($129,790), New Jersey ($119,840), New York ($107,550), District of Columbia ($104,270), Connecticut ($88,260). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($48,100), West Virginia ($46,660), Arkansas ($38,820).
Median pay in all 50 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $63,340 |
| Alaska | $54,060 |
| Arizona | $67,320 |
| Arkansas | $38,820 |
| California | $129,790 |
| Colorado | $78,060 |
| Connecticut | $88,260 |
| Delaware | $72,650 |
| District of Columbia | $104,270 |
| Florida | $79,920 |
| Georgia | $79,950 |
| Hawaii | $66,190 |
| Idaho | $61,150 |
| Illinois | $81,080 |
| Indiana | $59,870 |
| Iowa | $58,550 |
| Kansas | $60,600 |
| Kentucky | $54,550 |
| Louisiana | $62,920 |
| Maine | $71,320 |
| Maryland | $79,350 |
| Massachusetts | $80,970 |
| Michigan | $65,720 |
| Minnesota | $76,360 |
| Mississippi | $48,100 |
| Missouri | $66,460 |
| Montana | $52,580 |
| Nebraska | $52,580 |
| Nevada | $78,480 |
| New Hampshire | $61,560 |
| New Jersey | $119,840 |
| New York | $107,550 |
| North Carolina | $63,700 |
| North Dakota | $57,870 |
| Ohio | $69,350 |
| Oklahoma | $61,600 |
| Oregon | $87,460 |
| Pennsylvania | $75,460 |
| Rhode Island | $84,250 |
| South Carolina | $56,030 |
| South Dakota | $60,260 |
| Tennessee | $73,020 |
| Texas | $71,710 |
| Utah | $76,350 |
| Vermont | $55,660 |
| Virginia | $65,900 |
| Washington | $81,550 |
| West Virginia | $46,660 |
| Wisconsin | $66,390 |
| Wyoming | $60,420 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as producers and directors about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% use email every day
- 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 85% are on the phone every day
- 76% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 76% usually work more than 40 hours a week
- 73% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 73% work against deadlines every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 57% |
| High school diploma or GED | 15% |
| Associate's degree | 13% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 11% |
Tools and Software Broadcast Producers Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy creative work and self-expression as well as leading, persuading and making business decisions.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Social Perceptiveness.
Knowledge areas used most: Communications and Media, English Language, Telecommunications, Computers and Electronics, Administration and Management.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 4 of 5, which means considerable preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Broadcast Producer Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 27-2012.00 (Producers and Directors). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.