How to hire a broadcast engineer

How to hire a broadcast engineer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step broadcast engineer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a broadcast engineer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new broadcast engineer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a broadcast engineer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the broadcast engineer you need to hire. Certain broadcast engineer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A broadcast engineer's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, broadcast engineers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of broadcast engineer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Broadcast Engineer	Description	Hourly rate
   Broadcast Engineer	Broadcast and sound engineering technicians set up, operate, and maintain the electrical equipment for radio programs, television broadcasts, concerts, sound recordings, and movies.	$24-47
   Master Control Operator	A Master Control Operator executes and supervises the quality and accuracy of the transmission of radio and television programs. They also record and document various video feeds.	$13-44
   Board Operator	A board operator is a technical professional who is responsible for controlling a switchboard, the lighting and sound systems for a radio station, television station, or theater production. Board operators are required to master the control room audio board to ensure technical quality of sound as well as operate cameras and microphones... Show more	$11-35

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Transmitters
   • Troubleshoot
   • Technical Support
   • RF
   • IP
   • Audio Equipment
   • Encoders
   • Video Production
   • Broadcast Equipment
   • FCC
   • Signal Flow
   • A/V
   • Technical Issues
   • Windows

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage on-air logs, automation playlists and server-base computer systems.
   • Design networking for IP base broadcast systems for radio and television engineer systems.
   • Direct studio and professional ISDN vocal sessions.
   • Install, and maintain multiple FM broadcast radio remote systems.
   • Perform system upgrades to the existing PBX at the San Ramon site.
   • Assist in on location of live NFL broadcasts as well as I.T.

   More broadcast engineer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your broadcast engineer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A broadcast engineer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a broadcast engineer in Hawaii may be lower than in Virginia, and an entry-level broadcast engineer usually earns less than a senior-level broadcast engineer. Additionally, a broadcast engineer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average broadcast engineer salary

   $70,490yearly

   $33.89 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level broadcast engineer salary

   $50,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average broadcast engineer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Virginia	$106,549	$51
   2	New York	$99,822	$48
   3	California	$90,558	$44
   4	Ohio	$86,591	$42
   5	Texas	$82,473	$40
   6	Colorado	$80,864	$39
   7	Florida	$76,903	$37
   8	Connecticut	$76,296	$37
   9	Pennsylvania	$75,712	$36
   10	District of Columbia	$73,576	$35
   11	Washington	$72,366	$35
   12	North Carolina	$70,052	$34
   13	Montana	$69,215	$33
   14	New Jersey	$69,192	$33
   15	Massachusetts	$68,413	$33
   16	Michigan	$67,146	$32
   17	Maryland	$66,692	$32
   18	Minnesota	$65,436	$31
   19	Illinois	$65,177	$31
   20	North Dakota	$63,621	$31

   Average broadcast engineer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$134,351	$64.59	9
   2	Altice USA	$100,328	$48.23
   3	Boston College	$97,208	$46.73
   4	Advanced Systems Group	$96,300	$46.30	2
   5	Globecomm	$94,670	$45.51
   6	Fox News	$92,272	$44.36
   7	TEKsystems	$85,576	$41.14	7
   8	The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation	$84,552	$40.65
   9	AMC Networks	$83,851	$40.31
   10	Zoetis	$83,264	$40.03	2
   11	Univision Communications	$80,824	$38.86	4
   12	NBCUniversal	$80,778	$38.84	8
   13	Riot Games	$78,420	$37.70
   14	T-Mobile	$77,409	$37.22
   15	Comcast	$77,004	$37.02	10
   16	WNYC	$76,724	$36.89
   17	WarnerMedia	$76,708	$36.88
   18	NEP Group	$75,729	$36.41	1
   19	The Edward W Scripps Trust	$75,729	$36.41	6
   20	DIRECTV Puerto Rico	$74,346	$35.74

4. Writing a broadcast engineer job description

   A broadcast engineer job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a broadcast engineer job description:

   Broadcast engineer job description example

   Is troubleshooting digital broadcast systems in your DNA? Do you believe that infrastructure documentation is the lifeblood of an engineering department? Does SDI mean more to you than IT, but you understand the importance of both in the modern broadcast plant environment? If so, we'd like to talk to you.
   
   WISC/News 3 NOW is searching for a Broadcast Engineer who can read, understand, create, and maintain custom station documentation that is critical to the entire engineering department. We use AutoCAD & VISIO! to create and keep our documentation up to date. If you know AutoCAD & VISIO!, or can learn it, we'd like to talk to you.
   
   A strong background in RF Systems and station automation is a plus. Experience with Florical Systems, Ross Overdrive, and Rohde & Schwartz transmitters is a big plus.
   
   If you have integration on your resume we absolutely want to talk to you. We are looking for someone that understands every connection necessary to successfully integrate a new piece of equipment or system and can design projects in the documentation for others to help install.
   
   We have strong engineering leadership to help guide your career, and we have engineering staff that has been with the company for a long time. This is because we value and appreciate their contributions and they like it here.
   
   According to “Business Insider,” Madison, Wisconsin, is one of the “best places to live in America” for many reasons. It's the state Capital and is a vibrant cultural hub of art, music, food, and beer. As home to the University of Wisconsin Badgers, it's a college town where students actively support the community. It's a naturally beautiful city surrounded by lakes with plenty of outdoor activities. It is one of the most accommodating cities for cyclists. Madison is located on a natural Isthmus and is highly considered the greenest city around. It's an awesome place to live and raise a family. Meet Madison.
   
   Morgan Murphy Media is a dynamic and progressive family-owned business that values its employees, culture, and community. We offer a competitive wage and benefits package in addition to an advanced, stimulating broadcast engineering opportunity.
   Equal Opportunity Employer

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find broadcast engineers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any broadcast engineers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level broadcast engineers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your broadcast engineer job on Zippia to find and recruit broadcast engineer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit broadcast engineers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new broadcast engineer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the broadcast engineer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new broadcast engineer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a broadcast engineer?