What does a broadcast technician do?
Broadcast technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real broadcast technician resumes:
- Manage on-air logs, automation playlists and server-base computer systems.
- Insert bugs and crawls on NFL games and UFC events using ITX.
- Switch live sporting events including NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB.
- Run live HD UFC pay per views, UEFA soccer, NBA, NHL and NCAA games on ITX.
- Facilitate ISDN and IP Codec routing.
- Conduct Uplink and Downlink satellite feeds.
- Receive TOC training for uplinks and fiber feeds.
- Live monitoring of multiple uplink and downlink signals.
- Ensure closed captioning are accurate and broadcast maintain FCC requirements.
- Edit, transcribe, encode, and send clients their interviews.
- Assist in the repair, installation, and maintenance of digital audio/broadcast RF equipment.
- Live television specialist including local news and network sports NFL, NCAA, PGA etc.
- Monitor, analyze and troubleshoot problems with audio and video quality for various networks and simulcasts concurrently.
- Fill out logs, monitor on-air signal, ingest commercials, promos and PSA's for air.
- Perform signal level testing and video and audio quality checks to ensure compliance to FCC and company engineering standards.
Broadcast technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Broadcast Technicians are proficient in Troubleshoot, Broadcast Equipment, and RF. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Computer skills, and Manual dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Broadcast Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Troubleshoot, 11%
Monitor, troubleshoot and resolve issues associated with the Broadcasting of the TV & Radio signals in Standard & High Definition.
- Broadcast Equipment, 9%
Demonstrated consistent track record of maintaining high levels of reliability, quality and efficiency for all broadcast equipment.
- RF, 9%
Assisted in the repair, installation, and maintenance of digital audio/broadcast RF equipment.
- Automation Systems, 6%
Operated Harris ADC automation systems.
- Control Room, 5%
Interned there putting microphone on guests, moving furniture on and off set, observed the control room and edited video.
- FCC, 4%
Watch On-Air Network send & return feeds to ensure technical transmission and quality of broadcast are within FCC and WOWK-TV standards.
"troubleshoot," "broadcast equipment," and "rf" are among the most common skills that broadcast technicians use at work. You can find even more broadcast technician responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a broadcast technician to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients’ needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations." Broadcast technicians often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "ensured station operates within federal communications commission (fcc) regulations. "
Computer skills. Many broadcast technician duties rely on computer skills. "technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings.," so a broadcast technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways broadcast technician responsibilities rely on computer skills: "monitored and managed computer operations during live broadcasts, and answered phone calls from listeners with professional and friendly customer service"
Manual dexterity. broadcast technicians are also known for manual dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to broadcast technician responsibilities, because "some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." A broadcast technician resume example shows how manual dexterity is used in the workplace: "authored standard operating procedures manual for all equipment used in the broadcast operations center. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain broadcast technician responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of a broadcast technician rely on this skill, as "technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what broadcast technicians do: "collaborated with live events director to provide on-site analysis and big-ticket solutions for projects. "
The three companies that hire the most broadcast technicians are:
- AccuWeather2 broadcast technicians jobs
- DISH Network1 broadcast technicians jobs
- Hearst1 broadcast technicians jobs
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Compare different broadcast technicians
Broadcast technician vs. Audio/video engineer
An audio/visual (AV) engineer is someone who plays a major role in setting up, configuring, troubleshooting, and maintaining systems such as cameras, lighting, control systems for broadcast microphones, and communications. It is their responsibility to choose, install, implement, and configure whether simple and complex AV technologies compatibility with the broadcasting needs of the organization. They ensure that AV hardware and software meet the needs of the organization, check cable and wiring, and be the operating master of AV systems during events.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a broadcast technician are more likely to require skills like "automation systems," "control room," "fcc," and "live broadcasts." On the other hand, a job as an audio/video engineer requires skills like "crestron," "polycom," "autocad," and "system design." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Audio/video engineers really shine in the media industry with an average salary of $108,346. Comparatively, broadcast technicians tend to make the most money in the media industry with an average salary of $41,121.On average, audio/video engineers reach similar levels of education than broadcast technicians. Audio/video engineers are 3.8% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Broadcast technician vs. Station engineer
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that broadcast technician responsibilities requires skills like "broadcast equipment," "automation systems," "control room," and "ip." But a station engineer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "hvac," "engineering support," "cad," and "tcp ip."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Station engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than broadcast technicians. In fact, they're 2.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Broadcast technician vs. Cable operator
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from broadcast technician resumes include skills like "troubleshoot," "broadcast equipment," "rf," and "automation systems," whereas a cable operator is more likely to list skills in "doff," "hand tools," "safety standards," and "quality checks. "
When it comes to education, cable operators tend to earn similar degree levels compared to broadcast technicians. In fact, they're 2.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Broadcast technician vs. Studio control operator
Even though a few skill sets overlap between broadcast technicians and studio control operators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a broadcast technician might have more use for skills like "troubleshoot," "broadcast equipment," "rf," and "automation systems." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of studio control operators require skills like "robotic," "in-studio," "audio board," and "master control. "
The average resume of studio control operators showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to broadcast technicians. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 2.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.5%.Types of broadcast technician
Updated January 8, 2025
