Media Programming Directors
Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in preparation of radio or television station program schedules and programs, such as sports or news.
Also called: Broadcast Content Manager, Broadcast Director, Broadcast Operations Director, Cable TV Program Director (Cable Television Program Director), Digital Media Director, Educational Programming Director
Median pay
$90,360
Pay for the broader BLS group “Producers and Directors”
Pay range (10th–90th)
$45,780 – $198,540
People employed
143,120
Whole BLS group
Holland code
ECA
Enterprising · Conventional · Artistic
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Do you want a job with little physical risk?
- 2.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
- 3.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
Media Programming Directors pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (49 states and DC with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025, for the broader group “Producers and Directors”.
What media programming directors do
- 01Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
- 02Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
- 03Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
- 04Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
- 05Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.
- 06Prepare copy and edit tape so that material is ready for broadcasting.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
Knowledge
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Telecommunications
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Stress Tolerance
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a bachelor's degree (O*NET Job Zone 4).
- Related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from media programming directors
- Public Relations Managers90% · —
- Public Relations Specialists89% · —
- Information Technology Project Managers87% · group pay
- Project Management Specialists85% · —
- Advertising and Promotions Managers83% · —
Change into media programming directors
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Public Relations Specialists86% · $74,750
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners85% · $61,160
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys83% · $47,340
- Editors78% · $77,920
- Fundraisers78% · $72,550
Majors that lead here
- Radio and Television
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General
- Directing and Theatrical Production
- Musical Theatre
- Theatre and Dance
- Dramatic/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft, Other
- Film/Cinema/Media Studies
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production
- Documentary Production
- Theatre/Theatre Arts Management
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.