Media Technical Directors/Managers
Coordinate activities of technical departments, such as taping, editing, engineering, and maintenance, to produce radio or television programs.
Also called: Broadcast Director, News Director, News Technical Director, Newscast Director, Operations Director, Operations Manager
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
ECR
Enterprising · Conventional · Realistic
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 work well under tight deadlines?
- 2.Do you want to lead or coordinate other people’s work?
- 3.Are you happy talking and working with people most of the day?
- 4.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 5.Are you OK repeating the same tasks most of the day?
- 6.Are you OK with hours that change?
The hard parts
- Tight deadlines are common
- Dealing with conflict is part of the job
Media Technical Directors/Managers 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 technical directors/managers do
- 01Direct technical aspects of newscasts and other productions, checking and switching between video sources and taking responsibility for the on-air product, including camera shots and graphics.
- 02Switch between video sources in a studio or on multi-camera remotes, using equipment such as switchers, video slide projectors, and video effects generators.
- 03Observe pictures through monitors and direct camera and video staff concerning shading and composition.
- 04Follow instructions from production managers and directors during productions, such as commands for camera cuts, effects, graphics, and takes.
- 05Supervise and assign duties to workers engaged in technical control and production of radio and television programs.
- 06Set up and execute video transitions and special effects, such as fades, dissolves, cuts, keys, and supers, using computers to manipulate pictures as necessary.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Knowledge
- Communications and Media
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Telecommunications
- Engineering and Technology
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cooperation
- Stress Tolerance
- Adaptability
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 technical directors/managers
- Film and Video Editors78% · —
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys70% · —
- Project Management Specialists69% · —
- Information Technology Project Managers69% · group pay
- Special Effects Artists and Animators67% · —
Change into media technical directors/managers
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Film and Video Editors78% · $75,420
- Broadcast Announcers and Radio Disc Jockeys73% · $47,340
- Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film70% · $74,990
- Special Effects Artists and Animators66% · $102,030
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists64% · $62,200
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.