Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology equips students with the technical expertise needed to support and execute high-quality audio and video production across diverse media environments. This program emphasizes hands-on training in the operational systems that power modern broadcast and digital content delivery, preparing graduates for dynamic roles in media production teams.
- Sound Engineering and Acoustics: Master the principles of audio capture, mixing, and signal processing to ensure clear, professional-grade sound in studio and field environments.
- Lighting Design and Control: Learn to manipulate light for visual storytelling, including color temperature, intensity, and fixture operation in both studio and on-location shoots.
- Camera Operation and Maintenance: Develop proficiency in operating professional video cameras, understanding lens selection, framing, and routine equipment care to maintain optimal performance.
- Power and Signal Feed Management: Gain expertise in managing electrical systems, signal routing, and distribution networks essential for uninterrupted broadcast operations.
- Studio Operations and Workflow: Understand the coordinated processes involved in running a broadcast studio, from pre-production planning to real-time execution and post-event wrap-up.
- Broadcast Engineering Fundamentals: Explore the technical infrastructure behind transmission, including encoding, compression, and the integration of analog and digital systems.
- Computer Applications in Media Production: Utilize industry-standard software for editing, automation, graphics, and real-time control of broadcast systems.
- Specialized Production Formats: Apply technical skills across varied content types, including live news coverage, entertainment programming, sports broadcasting, talk shows, commercials, and recorded media.
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology degrees, including Film and Video Editors, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film and Lighting Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 84,530 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Film and Video Editors 27-4032 | $70,980 | $39,170 - $145,900 | 28,860 | $34.12 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film 27-4031 | $68,810 | $36,240 - $131,420 | 24,460 | $33.08 |
| Lighting Technicians 27-4015 | $60,560 | $36,340 - $117,690 | 10,130 | $29.11 |
| Broadcast Technicians 27-4012 | $53,920 | $29,190 - $115,400 | 21,080 | $25.92 |
Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $38,403 in South Dakota to $91,980 in District of Columbia—a 140% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New York, and New Jersey. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 84,530 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 85 institutions offering Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology is found at Full Sail University (139 graduates), Rowan University (96 graduates), Chattahoochee Technical College (86 graduates), Bowie State University (BSU) (79 graduates), and Tarrant County College District (TCCD) (74 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 1,515 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Sail University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
139 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | fullsail.edu |
| Rowan University |
Bachelor's
|
96 | Glassboro, New Jersey | Public | rowan.edu |
| Chattahoochee Technical College |
Other Award
|
86 | Marietta, Georgia | Public | chattahoocheetech.edu |
| Bowie State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
79 | Bowie, Maryland | Public | bowiestate.edu |
| Tarrant County College District (TCCD) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
74 | Fort Worth, Texas | Public | tccd.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
61 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
58 | Pendleton, South Carolina | Public | tctc.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPRA) |
Bachelor's
|
58 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Public | upra.edu |
| CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) |
Associate's
|
48 | New York, New York | Public | bmcc.cuny.edu |
| Trident Technical College (TTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
47 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | tridenttech.edu |
| Valencia College |
Other Award
|
38 | Orlando, Florida | Public | valenciacollege.edu |
| Passaic County Community College (PCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
37 | Paterson, New Jersey | Public | web.pccc.edu |
| Dallas College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
33 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Alabama A & M University (AAMU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Normal, Alabama | Public | aamu.edu |
| New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
27 | East Greenwich, Rhode Island | Private | neit.edu |
| Hollywood Cultural College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Los Angeles, California | Private | hccollege.edu |
| Ferris State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Big Rapids, Michigan | Public | ferris.edu |
| Miami Dade College (MDC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
22 | Miami, Florida | Public | mdc.edu |
| Northampton County Area Community College (NCC) |
Associate's
|
20 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Public | northampton.edu |
| SUNY Buffalo State University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Buffalo, New York | Public | suny.buffalostate.edu |
| Gaston College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
19 | Dallas, North Carolina | Public | gaston.edu |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
18 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | matc.edu |
| Lawson State Community College (LSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
17 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | lawsonstate.edu |
| Brookdale Community College |
Associate's
|
17 | Lincroft, New Jersey | Public | brookdalecc.edu |
| Hillsborough Community College (HCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
15 | Tampa, Florida | Public | hccfl.edu |
| Mount Wachusett Community College (MWCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Gardner, Massachusetts | Public | mwcc.edu |
| CUNY Kingsborough Community College (KCC) |
Associate's
|
15 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | kbcc.cuny.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| Monroe Community College |
Associate's
|
14 | Rochester, New York | Public | monroecc.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
14 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Suffolk County Community College (SUNY) |
Associate's
|
14 | Selden, New York | Public | sunysuffolk.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
13 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Seminole State College of Florida |
Other Award
|
12 | Sanford, Florida | Public | seminolestate.edu |
| CUNY Bronx Community College (BCC) |
Associate's
|
12 | Bronx, New York | Public | bcc.cuny.edu |
| William T McFatter Technical College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Davie, Florida | Public | mcfattertechnicalcollege.edu |
| Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
11 | Sioux City, Iowa | Public | witcc.edu |
| Lake Superior College (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
11 | Duluth, Minnesota | Public | lsc.edu |
| Long Island University (LIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
11 | Brookville, New York | Private | liu.edu |
| Southeastern Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
11 | Whiteville, North Carolina | Public | sccnc.edu |
| York Technical College (York Tech) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
11 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Public | yorktech.edu |
| Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) |
Associate's
|
10 | Council Bluffs, Iowa | Public | iwcc.edu |
| Isothermal Community College (ICC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Spindale, North Carolina | Public | isothermal.edu |
| Nash Community College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
10 | Rocky Mount, North Carolina | Public | nashcc.edu |
| Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
9 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | pikespeak.edu |
| Northern Essex Community College (NECC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Haverhill, Massachusetts | Public | necc.mass.edu |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) |
Associate's
|
9 | Schnecksville, Pennsylvania | Public | lccc.edu |
| Eastern Florida State College (EFSC) |
Other Award
|
8 | Melbourne, Florida | Public | easternflorida.edu |
| Hutchinson Community College (HutchCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Hutchinson, Kansas | Public | hutchcc.edu |
| Hinds Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
8 | Raymond, Mississippi | Public | hindscc.edu |
| Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
8 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | cpcc.edu |
| Forsyth Technical Community College (Forsyth Tech) |
Associate's
|
8 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Public | forsythtech.edu |
| Camden County College (CCC) |
Associate's
|
7 | Blackwood, New Jersey | Public | camdencc.edu |
| SUNY Adirondack |
Associate's
|
7 | Queensbury, New York | Public | sunyacc.edu |
| Cleveland Community College (CCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
7 | Shelby, North Carolina | Public | clevelandcc.edu |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Associate's
|
6 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
6 | Sanford, North Carolina | Public | cccc.edu |
| Mt Hood Community College (MHCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Gresham, Oregon | Public | mhcc.edu |
| Amarillo College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
6 | Amarillo, Texas | Public | actx.edu |
| Meridian Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Meridian, Mississippi | Public | meridiancc.edu |
| Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
5 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | capectc.org |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
|
5 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| Daytona State College (DSC) |
Other Award
|
4 | Daytona Beach, Florida | Public | daytonastate.edu |
| Pinellas Technical College (PTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
4 | Saint Petersburg, Florida | Public | myptc.edu |
| Olney Central College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
4 | Olney, Illinois | Public | iecc.edu |
| Northeast Community College |
Other Award
|
4 | Norfolk, Nebraska | Public | northeast.edu |
| Cayuga County Community College |
Associate's
|
4 | Auburn, New York | Public | cayuga-cc.edu |
| Ohio University |
Associate's
|
4 | Ironton, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Arizona Western College (AWC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Yuma, Arizona | Public | azwestern.edu |
| Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) |
Other Award
|
3 | Bossier City, Louisiana | Public | bpcc.edu |
| Owens Community College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | Perrysburg, Ohio | Public | owens.edu |
| Bates Technical College |
Associate's
|
3 | Tacoma, Washington | Public | batestech.edu |
| Husson University |
Other Award
|
3 | Bangor, Maine | Private | husson.edu |
| Leeward Community College (LCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Pearl City, Hawaii | Public | leeward.hawaii.edu |
| College of DuPage (COD) |
Associate's
|
2 | Glen Ellyn, Illinois | Public | cod.edu |
| Iowa Central Community College |
Associate's
|
2 | Fort Dodge, Iowa | Public | iowacentral.edu |
| Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) |
Associate's
|
2 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | haskell.edu |
| Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Public | stcc.edu |
| Mineral Area College (MAC) |
Associate's
|
2 | Park Hills, Missouri | Public | mineralarea.edu |
| Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) |
Associate's
|
2 | Dryden, New York | Public | tompkinscortland.edu |
| Marshalltown Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Marshalltown, Iowa | Public | mcc.iavalley.edu |
| Adrian College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Adrian, Michigan | Private | adrian.edu |
| Muskegon Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | Muskegon, Michigan | Public | muskegoncc.edu |
| Mercer County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | West Windsor, New Jersey | Public | mccc.edu |
| Ohio University |
Associate's
|
1 | Lancaster, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Vermont State University (VTSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Randolph, Vermont | Public | vermontstate.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology programs
How much can I earn with a Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology degree?
Salaries for Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology graduates vary by role and location. Film and Video Editors earn a median of $70,980 annually, while Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film earn around $68,810. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $91,980 compared to $38,403 in South Dakota. Approximately 84,530 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology programs?
Currently 85 accredited institutions offer Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Full Sail University (139 graduates), Rowan University (96 graduates), and Chattahoochee Technical College (86 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 2,018 in 2010 to a peak of 1,562 in 2020, before declining slightly to 1,515 in 2023-24. This represents a 25% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Radio and Television Broadcasting Technology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Film and Video Editors, Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film, and Lighting Technicians. Related occupations employ approximately 84,530 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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