How to hire broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience. • Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts. • Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions. • Operate control consoles. • Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots. • Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events. • Record commercials for later broadcast. • Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong speaking, active listening, reading comprehension, critical thinking, active learning and writing skills • Working knowledge of communications and media, English Language, computers and electronics and telecommunications • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $22.76 an hour ($47,340 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to operate control consoles. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys do
- Announce musical selections, station breaks, commercials, or public service information, and accept requests from listening audience.
- Identify stations, and introduce or close shows, ad-libbing or using memorized or read scripts.
- Keep daily program logs to provide information on all elements aired during broadcast, such as musical selections and station promotions.
- Operate control consoles.
- Prepare and deliver news, sports, or weather reports, gathering and rewriting material so that it will convey required information and fit specific time slots.
- Read news flashes to inform audiences of important events.
- Record commercials for later broadcast.
- Study background information to prepare for programs or interviews.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -7.6% over ten years, declining · about 2,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $81,310 |
| Indiana | $61,760 |
| Florida | $56,360 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,080 |
| Texas | $49,050 |
| Minnesota | $43,530 |
| Ohio | $42,440 |
| Wisconsin | $40,630 |
See broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Public Relations Specialists
- Editors
- Technical Writers
- Writers and Authors
- Interpreters and Translators
- Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
- Media and Communication Workers, All Other
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.