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Creative & Media

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.

Median salary (BLS)

$90,360

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$46k – $199k

Job outlook

+5% (faster than average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 4 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $91,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Media Programming Directors

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Bachelor's degree

Plan my path to this →

Typical progression

  1. Media Programming Directors Intern

    Internship

    $36,000

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Media Programming Directors

    Entry / Junior

    $45,780

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Media Programming Directors

    Established

    $90,360

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Media Programming Directors

    Senior

    $144,450

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Operate and maintain on-air and production audio equipment.
  • •Check completed program logs for accuracy and conformance with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules and regulations and resolve program log inaccuracies.
  • •Read news, read or record public service and promotional announcements, or perform other on-air duties.
  • •Direct and coordinate activities of personnel engaged in broadcast news, sports, or programming.
  • •Monitor and review programming to ensure that schedules are met, guidelines are adhered to, and performances are of adequate quality.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Creative & Media

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.