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Job outlook for media technicians in the United States
Media technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected media technician job growth rate is 10% from 2018-2028.
About 12,100 new jobs for media technicians are projected over the next decade.
Media technician salaries have increased 13% for media technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,072 media technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 38,422 active media technician job openings in the US.
The average media technician salary is $45,576.
Are media technician jobs in demand?
Media technician job and salary trends over time
Media technician jobs over time
Media technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,072 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 6,917 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 7,734 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 7,814 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 7,534 | 0.00% |
Average media technician salary over time
Media technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $45,576 | $21.91 | +4.4% |
| 2025 | $43,664 | $20.99 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $41,629 | $20.01 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $40,126 | $19.29 | --0.1% |
| 2022 | $40,164 | $19.31 | +1.9% |
Media technician jobs by state
Most common states for media technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 623,657 | 98 | 16% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 201 | 15% |
| 3 | Alaska | 739,795 | 113 | 15% |
| 4 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 106 | 15% |
| 5 | Delaware | 961,939 | 129 | 13% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 788 | 11% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 146 | 11% |
| 8 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 522 | 9% |
| 9 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 489 | 9% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 326 | 9% |
| 11 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 289 | 9% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 285 | 9% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 173 | 9% |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 95 | 9% |
| 15 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 94 | 9% |
| 16 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 52 | 9% |
| 17 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,055 | 8% |
| 18 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 808 | 8% |
| 19 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 72 | 8% |
| 20 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 64 | 8% |
Most common cities for media technicians
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burbank | 6 | 6% | $51,060 |
| 2 | Walpole | 1 | 4% | $63,038 |
| 3 | Culver City | 1 | 3% | $50,831 |
| 4 | Downers Grove | 1 | 2% | $51,779 |
| 5 | Cambridge | 1 | 1% | $62,338 |
| 6 | Fort Lauderdale | 1 | 1% | $39,781 |
| 7 | Framingham | 1 | 1% | $62,653 |
| 8 | Los Angeles | 3 | 0% | $50,863 |
| 9 | New York | 3 | 0% | $63,438 |
| 10 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $44,426 |
| 11 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $52,067 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs | 1 | 0% | $38,909 |
| 13 | Glendale | 1 | 0% | $50,962 |
| 14 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $48,832 |
| 15 | Mesa | 1 | 0% | $34,412 |
| 16 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $58,243 |
Media Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of media technician experts
California Baptist University
California Lutheran University
West Virginia State University
Iowa State University
Temple University
What experience really stands out on Media Technician resumes?
MaryAnn Pearson: Resumes that include work with student publications (newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks) and links to published articles stand out. Students who have participated in internships also stand out as they show experience.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Technicians?
Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler Ph.D.: The pandemic has slowed down hiring for recent graduates in some areas, but not in all. For those recent graduates who have not found employment during the most recent months, it'll be essential to show companies how they have made the best use of that time. For instance, additional courses that they have taken, non-profit volunteering, events they have attended, such as start-up weekends, or having started innovative projects of their own.
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D
ProfessorWest Virginia State University
Department of Communications & Media Studies
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Media Technicians?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: Graduates are also citizens of the world. This is a global pandemic, and we are all in it. Given the political economy of the coronavirus, many organizations are going through tough times. There will be fewer job opportunities for all graduates. The field of communication, on the other hand, maybe an exception. We learned it the hard way. We had to stay home, work, teach, and learn remotely. We filled our long days with entertainment, games, etc. We shared moments with family and loved ones virtually. The opportunities for internet-based media are endless. The essential item I retain from this experience is that media and communication technologies are central and our graduates.
What experience really stands out on Media Technician resumes?
Dr. Ali Ziyati Ph.D: The nature of practical experiences and where they took place always stand out in any resume. I would pay close attention to the academic aspect and align with those practical experiences to see the level of the candidate's planning, performance, and dedication to his/her dream job.
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.
Associate Professor; Director, ISU English Undergraduate Studies; Director, ISU Studio for New MediaIowa State University
Department of English
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Media Technician job market given the pandemic?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: Today, my students are quite experienced with precarity, a word that's become popular this year (which refers to environments dominated by precarious conditions). This means that many are well-suited to changing circumstances and varying methods of working on teams. Though the high unemployment rate in the US-led to reduced job listings last summer, employers have told me that they've been very impressed with the students they do hire. Many established workers have little experience with different ways to manage distance collaboration. Still, full-time students graduating this December will have had at least 10-12 courses, and those graduating next May will have had at least 15-18 courses taught online (or mostly online). This means new graduates will have had more diverse experiences with collaboration in remote teams under different professors/supervisors, which will allow them to see an extensive range of leadership styles and techniques to manage people working together at a distance. Distance collaboration is here to stay, and today's students will have superior skills and diverse experience working in such environments.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Media Technicians in the next 5 years?
Geoffrey Sauer Ph.D.: In the short term, this will depend enormously upon how the economy recovers from 2020. But if the US can forestall a deep recession, the job market will be quite good for graduates in the longer term. Baby Boomers are retiring, and my students are extremely hard workers-they tend to prove themselves quickly once hired. There will be a strong need for people with the skills being taught this year in technical communication. (See the BLM for data, if that's helpful.)
What skills stand out on Media Technician resumes?
David T. Z. Mindich Ph.D.: At Temple Journalism, we emphasize skills and practices that stand out on resumes. First, we send students out onto the streets of Philadelphia, the nation's fourth-largest media market, to report on a range of important, urban-related issues, from housing to wealth inequality to systemic racism to the pandemic to gentrification to education and beyond. Second, we teach storytelling across media platforms. Even though we are in a pandemic, students continue to report on pressing issues (while practicing safe distancing). When they graduate, they will have an important body of work to present.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Media Technicians to find work opportunities?
David T. Z. Mindich Ph.D.: There are two kinds of advice for young journalists. Some suggest that graduates go to small markets and make a name for themselves. Others say that larger communities, like cities, offer more high profile work. Both strategies can be successful as long as the journalist works hard and strives for excellence.