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Radio personality vs on-air disc jockey

The differences between radio personalities and on-air disc jockeys can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a radio personality and an on-air disc jockey. Additionally, a radio personality has an average salary of $48,193, which is higher than the $45,326 average annual salary of an on-air disc jockey.

The top three skills for a radio personality include radio station, FM and audio production. The most important skills for an on-air disc jockey are radio commercials, radio station, and FCC.

Radio personality vs on-air disc jockey overview

Radio PersonalityOn-Air Disc Jockey
Yearly salary$48,193$45,326
Hourly rate$23.17$21.79
Growth rate-4%-4%
Number of jobs2,3633,451
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age5050
Years of experience44

Radio personality vs on-air disc jockey salary

Radio personalities and on-air disc jockeys have different pay scales, as shown below.

Radio PersonalityOn-Air Disc Jockey
Average salary$48,193$45,326
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $95,000Between $23,000 And $86,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state--
Best paying company--
Best paying industry--

Differences between radio personality and on-air disc jockey education

There are a few differences between a radio personality and an on-air disc jockey in terms of educational background:

Radio PersonalityOn-Air Disc Jockey
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 65%Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityNorthwestern University

Radio personality vs on-air disc jockey demographics

Here are the differences between radio personalities' and on-air disc jockeys' demographics:

Radio PersonalityOn-Air Disc Jockey
Average age5050
Gender ratioMale, 58.1% Female, 41.9%Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.8% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 10.7% Asian, 4.4% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 4.6% Unknown, 3.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.1% Asian, 4.7% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between radio personality and on-air disc jockey duties and responsibilities

Radio personality example responsibilities.

  • Design locations for cell sites to achieve maximum handover efficiency.
  • Radio DJ on Saturdays and Sundays
  • Increase Facebook, WKQA web, and Instagram fans on the websites.
  • Operate board and entertain a weekly online audience via internet radio and Facebook live.
  • Perform network optimization, design of regional network as well as sanity check on antenna configuration.
  • Work with copywriting team to produce several Addy award winning commercials.

On-air disc jockey example responsibilities.

  • Manage commercial production, station remotes and appearances, blogging while being on the air mid-days.
  • Compile weekly reports of station playlists to submit to music journals.
  • Play music as dictated by upper management or create playlists around specialty formats.
  • Check and log power output readings for station transmitter to ensure compliance with FCC rules and regulations.
  • Promote concerts for local venues featuring prominent musical acts via on-air ticket giveaways and on-air interviews with the headlining acts.
  • Monitor and document transmitter power levels to ensure station is operating within FCC approve guidelines.
  • Show more

Radio personality vs on-air disc jockey skills

Common radio personality skills
  • Radio Station, 9%
  • FM, 7%
  • Audio Production, 6%
  • Disc, 5%
  • Public Service Announcements, 5%
  • Air Personality, 5%
Common on-air disc jockey skills
  • Radio Commercials, 10%
  • Radio Station, 9%
  • FCC, 8%
  • R, 8%
  • Audio Equipment, 7%
  • Air Personality, 6%

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