Sports Broadcasters and Announcers

Salaries in sportscasting vary, depending on the medium (radio or television), the market (large or small, commercial or public), and whether the sportscaster is a former athlete or recognized sports celebrity, as opposed to a newcomer trying to carve out a niche.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary of broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys was $45,680 in May 2024. The lowest paid 10 percent earned $26,000 or less and the highest paid 10 percent earned $131,780 or more. Broadcasters for spectator sports reported mean annual earnings of $94,470.

Sportscasting jobs in radio tend to pay less than those in television. Beginners will find jobs more easily in smaller stations, but the pay will be correspondingly lower than it is in larger markets.

Salaries are usually higher for former athletes and recognized sports personalities or celebrities, such as ex-quarterback Terry Bradshaw. These individuals already have an established personality within the sports community and may thus have an easier time getting athletes and coaches to talk to them. Salaries for such recognizable personalities can be $2 million or more per year.