Disc Jockeys

The salary range for radio disc jockeys and broadcast announcers is extremely broad, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $24,400 a year in May 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The mean annual salary was $44,890. The top 10 percent earned $127,560 or more. Fifty percent of radio disc jockeys and broadcast announcers earned between $30,920 and $66,070. Radio disc jockeys and broadcast announcers who were employed by radio and television broadcasting stations earned average salaries of $56,500, while those who worked for media streaming distribution services, social networks, and other media networks and content providers received $170,290.

Smaller market areas and smaller stations fall closer to the bottom of the range, while the top markets and top-rated stations offer DJs higher salaries. Top popular personalities, such as Howard Stern and Ryan Seacrest, can earn more than $20 million a year.

Disc jockeys who play prerecorded music for live audiences at venues or events earned hourly salaries that ranged from $11.08 (or $23,046 annually) to $57.66 ($119,933 annually), according to the DOL.

Benefits vary according to the size of the market and station. However, vacation and sick time is somewhat limited because the medium requires that radio personalities be on the air nearly every day in order to build and maintain their audiences.