Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Media Programming Directors
SOC: 27-2012 O*NET: 27-2012.03
Median Salary
$83,480
per year
Job Growth
📈 4.9%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
12.8
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Job Zone 4
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
What does a Media Programming Directors do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$43,060
10th percentile
Early Career
$59,810
25th percentile
Median
$83,480
50th percentile
Experienced
$131,160
75th percentile
Top Earners
$198,530
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$43,060
25th
$59,810
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$83,480
Mean: $114,280
75th
$131,160
90th
$198,530
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $155,470 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $59,810 and $131,160
- •Salary spread is 85.5% around the median, showing high variation
- •Total national employment: 145,270 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:167,000
Top Industries
Information62%
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries28.9%
Broadcasting and Content Providers28.5%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+4.9%
Annual Openings:12,800
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)167,000
Current
2034 (Projected)175,200
+4.9%
+8,300
Employment Change
+4.9%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Media Programming Directors professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
35,650 jobs$122,1502.10x
New York
29,720 jobs$104,0103.31x
Florida
8,160 jobs$81,2400.88x
Texas
7,270 jobs$63,4000.56x
Pennsylvania
4,400 jobs$72,4500.78x
Massachusetts
3,520 jobs$79,1001.03x
North Carolina
3,520 jobs$66,0000.76x
Georgia
3,470 jobs$76,8000.76x
Illinois
3,380 jobs$76,3700.59x
New Jersey
3,060 jobs$107,8500.76x
District of Columbia
2,810 jobs$99,9004.20x
Virginia
2,800 jobs$70,3100.73x
Washington
2,710 jobs$79,2200.81x
Connecticut
2,080 jobs$85,7101.31x
Michigan
2,010 jobs$62,7100.49x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Speaking
100%
#2
Active Listening
94%
#3
Critical Thinking
86%
#4
Reading Comprehension
80%
#5
Judgment and Decision Making
74%
#6
Social Perceptiveness
66%
#7
Monitoring
60%
#8
Negotiation
54%
#9
Complex Problem Solving
46%
#10
Coordination
40%
Skills Overview
Speaking
advanced5.0
100%
Active Listening
advanced4.7
94%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.3
86%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.0
80%
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediate3.7
74%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.3
66%
Monitoring
intermediate3.0
60%
Negotiation
basic2.7
54%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Speaking
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Active Listening
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
intermediateImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance60%
skills
3.0/5.0
Negotiation
basicImportance54%
skills
2.7/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Athletes and Sports Competitors82%
5 shared skills
Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film82%
5 shared skills
Police Identification and Records Officers82%
5 shared skills
Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare82%
5 shared skills
Security Managers82%
5 shared skills
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
Learn on the Job:
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Monitoring
- →Negotiation
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Critical Thinking
- ✓Reading Comprehension
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Speaking
- ★Active Listening
- ★Critical Thinking
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Judgment and Decision Making
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Media Programming Directors
Technology Intensity
Very High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires expert digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Advanced software proficiencySystem architecture understandingAutomation and scriptingEmerging technology adaptationTechnical problem-solving
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Asana
🔥 Hot TechSlack
🔥 Hot TechAtlassian JIRA
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Access
🔥 Hot TechGoogle Analytics
🔥 Hot TechAdobe InDesign
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Acrobat
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechExtensible markup language XML
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Creative Cloud software
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Illustrator
🔥 Hot TechAdobe Photoshop
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Asana
Slack
Atlassian JIRA
Microsoft Access
Google Analytics
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Outlook
Extensible markup language XML
Adobe Creative Cloud software
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (11)Planning & Development (3)Communication & Coordination (2)Management & Supervision (3)Documentation & Record-Keeping (1)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development97% perform98%
3
Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination94% perform96%
4
Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision91% perform94%
5
Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Communication & Coordination88% perform92%
6
Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision85% perform90%
7
Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Planning & Development82% perform88%
8
Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Management & Supervision79% perform86%
9
Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Media Programming Directors
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Media Programming Directors professionals typically have a ECA Holland code and highly value achievement
EEnterprising
CConventional
AArtistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Media Programming Directors
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.59
Dependability
CriticalDependability
Importance Level4.58
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.44
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.42
Leadership
Very ImportantLeadership
Importance Level4.18
Adaptability/Flexibility
Very ImportantAdaptability/Flexibility
Importance Level4.15
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.6
Dependability
4.6
Integrity
4.4
Cooperation
4.4
Leadership
4.2
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.2
Achievement/Effort
4.1
Analytical Thinking
4.1
Self-Control
4.1
Initiative
4.1
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
Bachelor's degree or higher
Typical duration: 4 years
Preparation Level
Job Zone 4
Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Bachelor's degree or higher
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training:
Significant preparation with related work experience
💼 Experience Requirement
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience needed
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Bachelor's degree in related field
- • Several years of work experience
- • Professional certifications often required
4
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Bachelor's degree in related fieldSeveral years of work experienceProfessional certifications often required
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