Also called: Radio Personality, On-Air Host
Hosts shows on the radio: playing music, talking, interviewing guests, and taking calls.
A morning radio host arrives at 4 a.m., preps funny segments with a producer, goes live from 6 to 10 a.m., then records ads and promotes the station at events.
Approximate. Small-market hosts earn modestly; syndicated or big-city morning hosts earn six or seven figures.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Broadcasting or communications degree helps; college radio experience is key.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Broadcasting, Communications, Journalism.
Shrinking (about -4% over 10 years). BLS projects decline for announcers as stations consolidate and automate.
High risk for 10 years. AI DJs and voice-tracking let one host cover many stations, sharply cutting on-air jobs; big local personalities remain.
Classes: Speech and debate, Broadcast journalism, Music, Theater.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.