| >recent reports indicate that the employment of sound | | | | including microphones, sound speakers, video screens, |
| and broadcast engineering technicians and radio | | | | projectors, video monitors, and recording equipment. |
| operators is expected to grow 17 percent over the | | | | These professionals also operate sound and mixing |
| 2006 though 16 decade, which is faster than the | | | | boards and other electronic. |
| average for all occupations. However, job growth in | | | | And then there are broadcast technicians operate |
| radio and television broadcasting will be limited by | | | | equipment that regulates the signal strength, clarity, and |
| consolidation of ownership of radio and television | | | | the range of sounds and colors of radio or television |
| stations | | | | broadcasts, and they also operate control panels to |
| Recent reports indicate that the employment of sound | | | | select the sources. |
| and broadcast engineering technicians and radio | | | | By February 2009, TV stations will only be allowed to |
| operators is faster than the average for all | | | | broadcast digital signals, and therefore by law, they will |
| occupations and expected to grow 17 percent over | | | | be forced to turn off analog signals. Many radio |
| the 2006 though 2016 decade. | | | | stations are also beginning to broadcast digital signals, |
| However, job growth in radio and television | | | | but there is no law that will require radio stations to |
| broadcasting will be limited by consolidation of | | | | convert. This means technicians who can install and |
| ownership of radio and television stations and by | | | | operate digital transmitters will be in big demand. |
| labor-saving technical advances, such as | | | | Insofar as salaries, the median for recording engineers |
| computer-controlled programming and remotely | | | | back in 2004 was approximately $38,000 per year, |
| controlled transmitters. Digital broadcasting will increase | | | | which has gone up by now. (Source: U.S. Bureau of |
| employment opportunities. | | | | Labor Statistics (BLS), |
| Historically, music recording professionals use most | | | | Almost one half of all radio and television announcers, |
| audio communications technologies in their work. This | | | | some of whom were disc jockeys, earned between |
| includes recording, mastering and mixing music or | | | | $8.10 and $18.62 an hour in 2004. The highest-paid 10 |
| adding sounds. Sound engineering technicians work in | | | | percent made more than $32.98 an hour while 10 |
| recording studios and at live events to monitor and | | | | percent of the lowest paid earned less than $6.55 |
| operate the equipment for high-quality audio | | | | - In 2006, announcers held about 71,000 jobs. |
| productions. | | | | - About 30 percent of these workers are in |
| Recording engineers typically work on radio or | | | | broadcasting, mainly in radio and television stations, with |
| television programs and operate recording equipment | | | | 17 percent working in the motion picture, video, and |
| such as soundboards, tape machines and equalizers. | | | | sound recording industries. |
| In the music industry, recording engineers work to | | | | - Working in the evening, on weekends, and over |
| ensure high-quality primary tracks and then mix and | | | | holidays is common |
| master these tracks, producing a finished product. | | | | - Sound engineering and broadcast technicians and |
| In the television or film industries, recording engineers | | | | radio operators held about 105,000 jobs in 2006. Their |
| typically produce special effects sounds and oversee | | | | employment was distributed among the following |
| the integration of various elements into a program's | | | | detailed occupations: |
| complete audio track. | | | | - 30 percent worked in broadcasting (except Internet) |
| And then there are audio forensics specialists who use | | | | and 17 percent worked in the motion picture, video, and |
| their knowledge of recording technology and audio | | | | sound recording industries. |
| science to provide evidence and legal assistance in a | | | | - 13 percent were self-employed. TV stations, on |
| variety of circumstances. For example, they might be | | | | average, employ many more technicians than radio |
| asked to analyze audio surveillance tapes to identify | | | | stations employ. Some technicians are employed in |
| voices or the sources of sounds. Or they might be | | | | other industries, producing employee communications, |
| asked to examine digital audio files for embedded | | | | sales, and training programs. |
| information that might be linked to criminal activities. | | | | - Motion picture production jobs are primarily in New |
| Additionally, audio/video equipment technicians typically | | | | York City and Los Angeles. |
| set up and operate audio and video equipment, | | | | |